Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati   

1.5 lakh saplings to be planted in Tirumala forests

Special Correspondent

`Range of medicinal herbs, rare species of animals found on hills'

HIGHLIGHT: The TTD Executive Officer, A.P.V.N. Sharma taking a look at snakeskin at an exhibition organised by the TTD's Forest Department in Tirupati on Tuesday. Financial Advisor Anita S. Akella is also seen.

TIRUPATI: The TTD's Forest Department has embarked on a programme to plant 1.5 lakh saplings of different species in the forests of Tirumala hills. The special drive is being launched as part of a weeklong programme -- Maanavudi Sevalo Madhavudi Vanaalu, (God's forests in the service of mankind).

Launching the programme on Tuesday, the TTD's Executive Officer, A.P.V. Narayana Sarma, recalled the impressive results of `Haritha' programme that the TTD had taken up sometime ago to improve green cover on the balding Seshachalam Hill ranges where Tirumala is located.

Mr. Sarma said a range of medicinal plants were found in the Tirumala forests.

Slender Loris

He made specific reference to Slender Loris (Thevangu Pilli), a rare and endangered nocturnal animal, which is found only in the Tirumala forests. The EO pledged to go all out to protect the flora and fauna of the Seshachalam hill ranges. Mr.Sarma and the TTD's Joint Executive Officer, N. Muktheswara Rao later planted saplings on the campus of Sri Venkatewara Employees Training Academy, Tirupati to symbolically launch the afforestation programme.

Roping in pilgrims

TTD's Forest Officer (Tirumala), Chandrasekhara Pillai, said by distributing a sapling to each pilgrim the temple administration proposed to promote the noble cause of `Vana Samrakshana' throughout the country. An exhibition at the venue displaying samples of rare herbs, plants, reptiles, animals etc. was a big draw.

Among the other participants were the TTD's Financial Adviser and Chief Accounts Officer, Anitha Shaw Akella, Chief Conservator of Forests, Hyderabad, D. Sudhakar and others.

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