Kiran chaired the 7th meet of wildlife board

Hyderabad, June 29 : The Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is also Chairman of State Board for Wild Life, today chaired the 7th meeting of the Board at Secretariat.

Officials informed the Chief Minister about the Action Taken Report on the agenda of the 6th meeting of the State Board for Wild Life. As per the suggestions of the Chief Minister for creation of a Special Cell for Red sander protection, the Special Task Force headed by Addl. Superintendent of Police with supportive staff including one Platoon of armed Police personnel with jurisdiction over Chittoor, Kadapa & Nellore districts has commenced operation from June 17.

Proposals were also sent to the Government to include forest offences under PD Act. As suggested by the Chief Minister for export of seized Red Sanders amounting to 11,000 MTs, the Ministry of Environment & Forests, GOI has given permission in principle to Ministry of Commerce, GOI to export 3000 MTs of Red Sanders in round form recently and matter is under consideration of Ministry of Commerce.

The anti-poaching wing has organized a raid on Murgi Chowk on Feb 23, 2013 and 490 birds were seized and sent to Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad for rehabilitation. Efforts are on to sensitize the traders not to deal in trade of animals listed in Wildlife Act, 1972. The process of restricting entry of heavy traffic to Kawal Tiger Reserve has been initiated. The officials of R & B and District Collector, Adilabad have been addressed to enforce this decision.

The Board also discussed issues like proposals seeking permission for laying of natural gas pipeline by M/s GITL India Transco Ltd in the vicinity (within 10 kms) of Coringa, Pakhal & Sivaram Wild Life Sanctuary. Proposals of diversion of 12.28 hactares in Coringa WLS for laying of underground gas pipeline by M/s.Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd and proposals of APGENCO for setting up of 800 MW expansion unit adjacent to Kothagudem Thermal Power Station (KTPS), Khammam District.

The Board also discussed proposals for 0.249 ha of land in Kolleru WLS for construction of high level bridge in place of the existing bridge at Perantalakanuma in Alapadu by R&B Dept and Diversion of 25.05 ha of forest land in Karimnagar East division for formation of new tank across Marrivagu in favour of S.E. Irrigation Circle, Nirmal.

It was decided to take a final decision after getting certain clarifications from the agencies involved in all these proposals.

Special Chief Secretary, Environment and Forests, M Samuel, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, B S S Reddy, Principal CCF & Chief Wildlife Warden, A V Joseph, Special Secretary, Forests, KDR Jayakumar, Members of the State Board for Wild Life, Secretary to CM, K S Jawahar Reddy and other officials attended the meeting. INN