Somesh Kumar, IAS., Chief Secretary to Govt. held a meeting on Urban Forests

Somesh Kumar, IAS., Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana emphasised the need to take up greenery on a mission mode with focus more on plantation during the rainy season.  Presiding over a meeting on urban forests in the state at BRKR Bhavan today, he asked the officials to work towards fulfilling the vision of the Chief Minister Shri K.Chandrasekhar Rao towards rejuvenation of forests and protection from encroachments.   He said that 188 forest blocks in 129 locations comprising 1.60 lakh acres were being developed in the state.   He urged the officials to take up massive plantation in all the areas wherever possible to make the city in a sustainable and liveable manner.

  The GHMC was instructed to take up plantation along the roads taken up under Comprehensive Road Management Programme, graveyards, schools, lakes , drains etc and ensure that it makes a visible impact in the city.  Similarly the Metro rail officials were told to take up greenery on both sides and the medians along the corridor and depots.  The HMDA, Forest, TSIIC and HMRL have been asked to immediately take up extensive plantation in urban forest blocks.

He directed the officials to formulate an action plan for development of urban forest blocks utilizing the campa funds to the tune of Rs 900 crores to be submitted to the government of India.  A project monitoring unit should be set up under campa for urban forest blocks, he added.  He directed the officials to form a forest block level committee comprising of RDO, DFO and concerned agency to resolve land related issues within a week.  Regular review of the progress of plantation will be taken up. 

Shri Rajat Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary EFST, Sri Arvind Kumar, IAS, Principal Secretary MA&UD, Sri Lokesh Kumar, GHMC Commissioner, PCCF Shobha, IFS, Smt. Priyanka Verghese, IFS, OSD to CM and other officials attended the meeting.

 -Press note