Speaker Ayyanna Patrudu Questions Real Impact of Vanamahotsavam Beyond Paperwork

Visakhapatnam:Assembly Speaker Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu advocated cultivation of saplings in all colleges. Patrudu raised concerns over uncontrolled felling of trees under the previous government, questioning the oversight by the higher authorities.

Speaking to the media after participating in a sapling planting programme in Anakapalle, Patrudu recommended involving DWCRA women from the district in the plantation process and stressed the importance of avoiding certain plant species. He proposed growing bamboo forests and medicinal plants as part of the Vanamahotsavam initiative.

Drawing his experience as the former forest minister, he explained his daily efforts to plant lakhs of saplings, mainly through collaborative initiatives with student organisations such as the Red Cross, Green Corps and NCC. He has directed the district collector to enhance these efforts.

He underscored local farmers’ challenges in obtaining permission to cut neem and teak trees grown in their fields. Patrudu proposed imposing fines on forest officials involved in unauthorised tree cutting. He advocated allocation of funds for reforestation in the Anakapalle district in response to trees felled during road expansion projects.

Anakapalle MLA Konatala Ramakrishna, Yalamanchili MLA Sundarapu Vijay Kumar, district collector Vijay Krishnan, DFO Jagannad Singh and other dignitaries attended the programme.