Hyderabad, January 1: The Minister for Forests and Environment, Mr Satrucharla Vijayaramaraju, on Friday exuded confidence that there was no danger to the Congress government till 2014.
Speaking to mediapersons in his chamber in the Secretariat, Mr Vijayaramaraju said that in a democracy, the governments, which enjoy support and cooperation of the people and the media, would survive till the completion of five-year term. Stating that there was no scope for mid-term elections in the State, Mr Vijayaramaraju said that the Congress government would continue till the completion of its remaining period. Even as formation of Telangana State was declared at the moment, the Congress government would last till 2014 and “we would remain united until then”, he added.
Asked about the Congress MLAs defecting to the side of Mr Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, he pointed out that Mr Jagan himself had announced that he would not topple the Congress government in the State. On the political strength of Mr Jagan, the minister said, “Let’s see how many MLAs would participate in Odarpu Yatra in Visakhpatnam district. As former MP, Mr Jagan has no strength. But as the son of late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Mr Jagan would have good future if he was in the Congress”, he opined. But, Mr Jagan went out of the Congress on his own, he added. He also asked which other party can extend better administration in the State than the present Congress government.
“I also resigned from my post during late P V Narasimha Rao regime during 1992-93 under emotion. But I tasted the result of my action”, he added.
Informing that the Centre has released Rs 1,000 crores under Compensatory Aforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) for development of the forests in the State, the Minister said that 340 jeeps have been purchased recently with the fund to provide vehicles to Forest Range Officers. Besides, staff quarters would be constructed in forest areas with the amount. He also regretted that some damage was caused to the forest with the Forest (Tribal) Land Rights Act passed in Parliament which allows each tribal family to have 10 acres of land in the reserve forests. The CAMPA fund would be utilized to develop forest in the deforested areas.
On the controversy of DeBeers company, which started a survey in the Nallamalla forest for precious stones, the minister said that he would hold a meeting with the officials in two or three days and discuss the matter. There was a controversy on the boundary between the revenue and forest land in the area. To sort out the boundary issue, a joint survey by Survey department and Revenue department would be conducted, he added.
NSS