Sanjeevani scheme to support the families of Forest dept martyrs: Pawan

VIJAYAWADA: Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has vowed to take stringent action against those who threaten on-duty police officers and said he would give top priority to environmental protection.

PK, who holds the portfolios of forests and environment, was speaking at the Forest Martyrs Commemoration Day event in Guntur on Sunday. His reference was to alleged threats to police officers from former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

“Jagan Reddy says Tirupati SP, Subbarayudu, will be tackled even if he is beyond the seven seas. They say they will not leave the DGP even if he retires. Threatening officers on duty is not acceptable,” Pawan Kalyan said.

He emphasised the state government's commitment to upholding law and order and preserving the natural resources. "The coalition government will take tough action if police officers on duty are threatened."

The deputy CM participated in the Remembrance Day celebrations of state forest department’s Immortal Heroes at an event in Guntur Aranya Bhavan. PK and senior officials paid floral tributes to the immortal heroes. Later the deputy CM honoured the families of the martyrs.

He said, “23 forest officers, including IFS officer and Keerthichakra awardee late Pandillapalli Srinivas, were killed while they were engaged in the conservation of forest wealth. Srinivas lost his life after fighting with Veerappan, the sandalwood smuggler.”

“Their sacrifices should be remembered by future generations. We will put up statues and name city forests and forest department buildings after them. We will go to industrialists and donors for the Sanjeevani scheme aimed at supporting the families of martyrs,” he said.

He said a sum of `5 crore would be collected and Stupas of martyrs erected.

Kalyan said, “The Bishnoi tribe goes to great lengths to protect trees and wildlife. Under the leadership of Amrita Devi, they had organised peaceful struggles against the felling of trees by the king of Jodhpur, and hundreds of lives were lost.”

“Let us fight and protect the forest wealth the way the Bishnoi tribe did,” he said.

PK affirmed, “We will bring reforms that will benefit the people. I will talk to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and get necessary funds for strengthening the forest department.”