Government will not evict tribes from forests: Minister Indrakaran Reddy

Hyderabad: Environment and Endowments Minister A Indrakaran Reddy on Friday said the government would not evict the tribes from the lands being cultivated by them in the forest areas.

Giving reply to the discussions on demands of his departments, he said no trenches would be dug in the forest lands being cultivated by the tribes. The Minister said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao would soon visit the districts to look into the Podu Cultivation issue.

The Minister said that the government has been trying to raise the forest cover to 33 per cent in the State. He informed that about 175 crore plants have been planted during the Haritha Haram programme in the State.

He informed that famous temples of Telangana, Bhadrachalam, Kaleshwaram, Vemulawada and others would be developed. Plans have been prepared for their development.

He informed that Rs 100 crore have been given for the development of Bhadrachalam temple.

Congress legislative party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka alleged that matching grants for the development of the religious places were not provided.

He said that though Rs 100 crore have been announced for Telangana for development of Bhadrachalam temple, works have not been taken up.