Andhra Pradesh seeks more Centre support for environment, tiger conservation: Pawan Kalyan
New Delhi, June 16
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday said he met Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav and discussed several proposals, including additional financial support through centrally sponsored schemes, sea protection measures, pollution mitigation in the Godavari river, and tiger conservation initiatives in the state.
Addressing the media in Delhi after the meeting, Kalyan said the Andhra Pradesh government had made seven to eight requests to the Union Minister, seeking assistance in strengthening environmental protection and conservation efforts.
"One is about seeking additional financial support through centrally sponsored schemes regarding sea protection law and about mitigation measures for pollution in Godavari," Kalyan said.
He also said the state government had requested the relocation of six tigers to Andhra Pradesh from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to bolster tiger conservation efforts.
"We sought six tigers from both Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, which have a very good tiger population. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has agreed and permitted four tigers. Two tigers are supposed to come from Madhya Pradesh. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has agreed," he said.
Kalyan further said the discussions also covered support for the AP Greening Society and various environmental schemes being implemented by the state government.
"We sought support for the AP Greening Society. The centrally sponsored schemes would support the schemes which we are implementing at the state level," he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted the need for assistance in skill development and said the Union Minister had responded positively to the state's requests.
"We needed a lot of support from central skills, which, with large-heartedness, he agreed," Kalyan added.
According to Kalyan, the meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government in areas related to environmental conservation, pollution control, afforestation and wildlife protection.
Earlier on Monday, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister arrived in the national capital to participate in the 'Sena Prasthanam for National Integrity' programme, asserting that strengthening national unity and discouraging divisive forces remain central to his party's ideology.
Speaking to reporters, Kalyan said, "Janasena's commitment is that any kind of divisiveness should be discouraged. National integrity has to be strengthened. This was the main agenda today."
As part of the programme, Kalyan visited the National War Memorial in New Delhi, where he paid tribute to the personnel of the Armed Forces who laid down their lives in the service of the nation.
Sharing his thoughts in a post on X, the Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister said, "As part of Sena Prasthan - For the National Integrity (Sena Prasthanam - Desha Samagratha Kosam), I stood at the National War Memorial with profound humility and reverence, paying tribute to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of Bharat."He said that every name inscribed at the memorial symbolised extraordinary courage, selfless devotion and an unwavering commitment to the country.
Expressing gratitude to the fallen heroes, Kalyan added, "With deep gratitude, I bowed to our fallen heroes and drew inspiration from their legacy. May their courage continue to guide us, their sacrifice continue to unite us, and their spirit continue to strengthen our resolve to build a strong, secure, and united Bharat."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good initiative by Pawan Kalyan ji. But I hope the tiger relocation is done scientifically - not just moving animals for publicity. Proper habitat assessment and prey base availability should be ensured first. Also, what about the compensation for farmers whose livestock might be attacked? These practical issues need addressing too.
As a farmer in coastal Andhra, I welcome the sea protection measures. Our coastline is eroding badly every monsoon. But why only seven to eight requests? The state needs massive support for afforestation too - we lost so many trees to Cyclone Hudhud and subsequent development. Hope the Centre doesn't treat AP like a stepchild just because it's ruled by NDA now.
Pawan Kalyan should focus more on actual implementation rather than just meetings and photo ops. We've seen enough promises in the past. The AP Greening Society has been around for years but where is the visible improvement? Let's see the tangible results - how many trees planted, how much pollution reduced, how many tiger sightings. Actions speak louder than press conferences.
Great to see a film star turned politician actually taking environmental issues seriously! The 'Sena Prasthanam' program for national integrity is also commendable. We need more leaders who think beyond vote bank politics. 🇮🇳 But I wish they had also discussed the Visakhapatnam industrial pollution - that's another major environmental disaster waiting to happen.
Tiger conservation is noble, but what about the people living near forests? Relocating animals from Maharashtra and MP without proper community engagement could lead to human-animal
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.