Hyderabad, Dec 18 – Konda Surekha took formal charge as Minister of Environment and Forests & Endowments in her chamber in the B R Ambedkar Telangana State Secretariat here on Sunday.
Soon after taking charge, Surekha signed her first file for increasing ex-gratia to families whose members fell victims to human-animal conflicts, increasing the compensation amount for loss of human life from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh.
Rules relating to this are to be issued soon, she said and also signed a file pertaining to bringing elephants for various festivals and events from other states into Telangana.
Expressing happiness on being appointed as the Minister for Forests & Environment, she said that she would provide cent per cent support in all development activities of the Forest Department.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, several MLAs, various leaders from the Minister’s constituency,
additional chief secretary, EFS&T, PCCF (HoFF) R M Dobriyal, M C Pargain, PCCF, G Chandra Shekar Reddy, director / additional PCCF, TSFDC, Ms Sunita M Bhagwat, additional PCCF, and all other Circle heads & DFOs attended the programme.
After releasing posters on environmental pollution, Surekha called on officials to create effective
plans to control pollution and protect forests and wildlife.
The Minister later held a meeting with Forest Department officials and issued guidelines to officers for improving greenery in Telangana and to work with the people on the lines of Chief Minister of Telangana’s directions as “Praja Sevaks”.
