Get tough on wood-smugglers, says Telangana CM

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Monday asked officials to put wood-smuggling down with an iron hand.

Rao, who held a meeting on 'Protecting environment and developing forest area,' instructed the forest officials to take the help of police to check smuggling of wood from forests, an official press release said.

The Preventive Detention Act should be invoked against those who indulge in smuggling forest wood, the release said.

Also, the Chief Minister instructed that however influenced might be the wood-smugglers, and whatever political party they belong (to), action should be initiated against them, it said.

Rao suggested dividing the state into four parts and drawing up an actionplan for the purpose of protecting the environment, the release said.

The actionplan should be evolved on planting of crores of saplings throughout the state, forest rejuvenation, greenery development in and around the city and control of wood-smuggling, it said.

By taking the help of police, forest officials should develop a plan and bring wood-smuggling down to nil, the release said.

The number of saplings to be planted as part of 'Telangana ku Haritha haram' (green drive of the state government) should be increased year after year, the release quoted Rao as saying.

During the next monsoon, 100 crore of saplings should be planted under the campaign and an actionplan be developed for the purpose, he said in the release.

Massive plantation should take place as pollution was increasing in the city day by day, he said.