Telangana State Planning Board Vice Chairman B Vinod Kumar announced on Monday that Telangana State has done a great job in expanding forest cover and conserving wildlife. This achievement has made it the top State in the country. He mentioned that Telangana is the only State in India that has made extensive use of the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds released by the central government, even during the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the Indian State of Forest Report (ISFR), Telangana State’s forest area has increased by 7.7 percent from 2015 to 2021 and by 3.07 percent from 2019 to 2021. He also said that Telangana State’s (Sustainable Development Goals) (SDG) rank had improved to the fourth position, and water availability in forest areas had increased. Employment opportunities for tribals and women in the forest area had also risen.
Vinod Kumar disagreed with Union Minister G Kishan Reddy’s comments and urged him to understand the facts before making any statements. He suggested that Union Minister Kishan Reddy should provide information on BJP-ruled states that have better-utilized CAMPA funds than Telangana. Vinod Kumar emphasized the need for better understanding and cooperation between the State and central governments for effective implementation of forest conservation measures.
In conclusion, Telangana State has done an excellent job of expanding forest cover and conserving wildlife. The use of CAMPA funds is efficient, and the State has achieved remarkable progress in sustainable development goals. Vinod Kumar urged Union Minister Kishan Reddy to understand the facts before criticizing the State government. Cooperation between the State and central governments is necessary for effective implementation of forest conservation measures.
