Environmental stewardship takes centre stage as Sangareddy opens new forest office

Hyderabad: Two senior state ministers have underscored the critical need for environmental stewardship and resource conservation at an event held in Sangareddy district on Monday.

The occasion marked the opening of a newly built District Forest Office facility, constructed with an investment of ₹1.44 crore at the district headquarters.

Forest and Environment Minister Konda Surekha highlighted the accelerating deterioration of climate conditions, attributing much of this to widespread deforestation and intensifying global warming. She emphasised that environmental preservation was not merely a government responsibility but a duty incumbent upon all citizens.

The minister noted that the state administration has been rolling out Vanamahotsavam initiatives throughout Telangana as part of its broader 99-day Praja Palana–Pragati Plan. She outlined the creation of two nature reserves—Amrutavanam and Harithavanam—established near Bonthapalli within the district, designed to offer visitors and families opportunities to experience the natural world.

These facilities encompass amenities for recreational use, with Surekha indicating that overnight accommodation options could be introduced pending favourable visitor feedback. The Forest Department, she stated, is implementing robust protective measures across forest zones, including the installation of sturdy perimeter fencing around protected forests to mitigate human-wildlife conflict by restricting animal movement into populated areas.

The minister announced plans to identify and develop additional nature parks across Narayankhed, Zaheerabad, and other locations throughout the district. She appealed to residents to personally contribute to environmental restoration by nurturing and maintaining at least one young tree.

Health Minister and district-in-charge official Damodar Rajanarasimha characterised environmental conservation as a collective social obligation. He stressed that safeguarding ecological systems would ensure a sustainable world for future inhabitants.

Rajanarasimha reaffirmed that the Telangana administration has elevated environmental protection to a priority position, channelling resources into tree-planting campaigns and nature park development. He noted that facilities like Amrutavanam and Harithavanam would enhance ecological equilibrium while fostering deeper public connection with the natural environment. The minister called upon citizens to engage meaningfully in afforestation and preservation endeavours.

The event drew attendance from PGIIC Chairperson Nirmala Jayaprakash Reddy, District Collector Prateek Jain, SP Paritosh Pankaj, Narayankhed MLA Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, Sangareddy Municipal Chairperson Vanitha Santosh, and representatives from the Forest Department.