Chandrababu Naidu warns of severe action against smugglers, vows to boost green cover
Chandrababu Naidu promised strict action against illegal deforestation, stressing the importance of environmental conservation.
- Andhra Pradesh
NewsTAP Bureau- Updated On:30 Aug 2024 7:39 PM IST
AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu issued a stern warning against those involved in illegal deforestation, stating that his government would take severe action against smugglers.
Speaking at the Vanamahotsav event on Friday at the Eco Park in Mangalagiri, Chandrababu Naidu cautioned that individuals who enter forests with ill intentions will face dire consequences.
The event was attended by Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who joined Naidu in planting saplings as part of the nationwide tree-planting festival. Naidu emphasised that the state government would no longer tolerate the activities of smugglers and vowed to take decisive steps to protect Andhra Pradesh’s natural resources.
During his address, Chandrababu Naidu criticised the previous five-year rule of the YSR Congress Party, accusing them of causing widespread environmental damage, including the destruction of rivers, lakes, and hills across the state. He urged students to understand the importance of greenery and environmental conservation. Chandrababu Naidu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to increasing green cover, declaring, "We will plant trees and will not allow anyone to cut them down - this is our policy."
Looking to the future, Chandrababu Naidu expressed his goal to increase Andhra Pradesh’s green cover by 50% in the coming years. He also stressed the need to turn tree-planting initiatives into a mass movement to generate pollution-free power. He called on everyone to contribute to environmental balance, aspiring to make the state a beacon of biodiversity.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan also spoke at the event, pledging to plant one crore saplings during Vanamahotsav. He urged every citizen to take responsibility for nurturing trees and encouraged people to plant wherever there is vacant land. He noted that in Konaseema, coconut trees are treated with the same respect as the eldest son.
