AP Aims for 30% Tree Cover, Says Minister Narayana

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Minister P. Narayana on Wednesday said that the state government is prioritizing efforts to achieve 30 per cent green space in the greenfield capital under a comprehensive plantation and beautification programme. The municipal administration minister said authorities have prepared an afforestation plan covering more than 133 square kilometers, including the development of parks and green corridors in many places in the capital region.

“We attach great importance to achieving 30 percent green space in the capital Amaravati and have prepared an afforestation plan of 133.3 square kilometers. Accordingly, we are starting park development works in various areas,” Narayana said in a press release. he said.

He added that the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) has prepared a special draft plan based on the “green and blue” concept for Shakamuru, Krishnayapalem and Neerukonda and the tender process will be completed by the end of January. He added that the beautification work will be aligned with seasonal floral patterns and that greenery development work is already underway on both sides of the buffer zones on 22 main roads.

Narayana said the NDA coalition government was addressing farmers’ issues “one by one”, including clearing pending registrations for over 7,700 plots to be allotted to around 2,200 farmers under the land sharing scheme. He said that 719 decares of land have not yet been allocated to farmers who contributed land to the capital, and that the authorities recommended them to complete their registration without delay.

The minister appealed to farmers in 29 villages who did not cooperate in the land sharing process to come forward even at this stage, stressing that their participation is essential for the development of Amaravati. He warned that if farmers did not participate voluntarily, the government would proceed with land acquisition to avoid delay in capital development works. Narayana said a special cell will be set up in the CRDA office to address farmers’ issues and only expedite pending processes.