VIJAYAWADA: Aimed at increasing green cover, the State government as part of the ongoing 'Vanam- Manam' programme planted 27 crore saplings across the State.
Speaking to media at the Interim Government Complex in Velagapudi on Thursday, Environment and Forest Minister Sidda Raghava Rao said that with the objective to increase greenery by 2029, the State government is taking up all the necessary steps. Sidda said that the Vanam-Manam programme began on July 14, will conclude on November 23.
Stating that an action plan was prepared for developing Tirupati Zoo on par with international standards, he said Rs 75 crore was sanctioned for the development of Visakhapatnam zoo. He said that detailed project report (DPR) of the zoo to be developed at Kondapalli in Krishna district will be prepared within a week and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will lay the foundation stone for the same at the earliest.
The minister said that the State government generated a revenue of Rs 1,483 crore after auctioning 5,489 MT of red sander logs from 2014 and going to put 772 MT of logs on November 27 and December 4.
Announcing that 800 vacant posts in forest department will be recruited through APPSC, he said staff will be given revolvers, adding 26th National Children Science Congress will be held at KL University on December 2 and 3.