Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Shri Pawan Kalyan held a productive meeting today in New Delhi with the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav. During the meeting, they discussed several key environmental and wildlife conservation initiatives concerning Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Pawan Kalyan thanked the Union Minister for approving the ‘Aranyaram Common Facility Centre’ (for training and research), which comprises units such as the H.A.N.U.M.A.N. (Human-Animal Conflict Mitigation Centre), the Great Green Wall Monitoring Centre, the Forest Fire Command & Control Centre, and the State Tiger Monitoring Centre.
Furthermore, Pawan Kalyan requested the expedited granting of wildlife clearances for the Swayanthyam road project in Visakhapatnam, increased support under the Green India Mission, and assistance for the Andhra Pradesh Great Green Wall initiative. He also sought support for coastal conservation efforts along the state’s 1,050-kilometer coastline. He offered valuable suggestions for making the environment pollution-free and for protecting the sacred Godavari River from municipal and industrial pollution.
Additionally, Pawan Kalyan requested the Union Minister’s support to increase the number of base camps in the NSTR (Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve) area from the current 90 to 150. This initiative will significantly strengthen wildlife conservation, particularly the protection of tigers. Simultaneously, it creates approximately 300 employment opportunities for local Chenchu youth as forest watchers, thereby providing sustainable livelihoods to tribal communities alongside conservation efforts.
The Deputy CM requested support to provide motorcycles and free rations to these forest watchers to enhance their mobility, efficiency, and welfare while working in remote forest areas; he noted that Hon’ble Minister Bhupender Yadav responded positively to this request.
The two leaders further discussed the need for trained ‘Kumki’ elephants from Odisha to mitigate human-animal conflict in the Parvathipuram district. A request was also made to consider introducing female tigers from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to enhance the genetic diversity of the tiger population in Andhra Pradesh. During their discussions, Shri Bhupender Yadav spoke with the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Dr. Mohan Yadav, and conveyed his support for these conservation efforts.
Mr. Pawan Kalyan expressed happiness that the Hon’ble Minister assured full cooperation on behalf of the Government of India and also expressed his willingness to personally visit Andhra Pradesh on August 12, which marks World Elephant Day. He also assured that the necessary approvals and clearances regarding these proposals would be expedited on a priority basis, even before his visit.
They both affirmed their commitment—under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi—to protecting forests, conserving wildlife, strengthening environmental security, and building a greener, sustainable Andhra Pradesh for future generations.
