HYDERABAD, MAY 29, 2024: Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari instructed the officials to formulate an action plan to ensure that the Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR) in Nallamalla forest track spread over Nagarkurnool and Nalgonda districts becomes a complete plastic free zone by the end of July.
The CS held a meeting with officials of forest, Panchayat Raj, Pollution Control Board on Wednesday and discussed measures to be taken to make Amrabad Tiger Reserve a plastic free zone.
She directed the officials to enforce ban on use of plastic bags, bottles etc in the Amrabad Tiger Reserve area. She said that additional check posts should be established to remove banned plastic articles and promote alternatives to plastic through eco friendly products like paper bags, cloth/jute bags, leaf plates etc. Officials were also told to take up massive awareness campaign through print and electronic media as well as by erecting sign boards at panchayat, district and state level. Local vendors all along the highway should be sensitized about the ban on use of plastic in the Tiger Reserve Area.
The Chief Secretary asked the officials to expedite the process of relocating people living in four habitations under the Amrabad Tiger Reserve as per the timelines. She directed that funds available under the HarithaNidhi should be utilized within that year. CS also asked the endowment department officials to take steps to eradicate usage of plastic at the Maisamma temple in Mahbubnagar district.
Principal Secretary EFS&T Vani Prasad, Principal Secretary PR&RD Sandeep Kumar Sultania, PCCF R M Dobriyal, Member Secretary TSPCB Buddha prakash Jyothi, Commissioner Endowments Hanumantha Rao and other officials were present.
