State not keen to declare Chintapalle Biosphere Reserve

[Mrudul Godbole]

State not keen to declare Chintapalle Biosphere Reserve

Ramesh Susarla

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh Government has rejected the suggestion of Ministry of Environment and Forests to designate Chintapalle as Biosphere Reserve citing problems for local population and development of industry/mining.

While proposals were sent from State government for Seshachalm hill ranges, the then Chief Minister K. Rosaiah wrote a letter to the MoEF a few months ago, pointing out difficulty the tribals, industrial activity and mining would face if it was designated as biosphere reserve, sources said.

Chief Conservator of Forests Visakhapatnam Range N. Prateep Kumar told The Hindu that no proposal was sent from the government to designate Chintapalle as Biosphere Reserve. The proposed setting up of refinery and smelters at Makavarapalem in Visakhapatnam district by Anrak Aluminium Ltd., and Jindal Aluminium Ltd. at Boddavara in Vizianagaram district also gives credence to government's thinking on Chintapalle.

Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh in a statement in Rajya Sabha on Monday said that Seshachalam hill ranges spread over Chittoor and Kadapa districts had been designated as ‘Seshachalam Biosphere Reserve' with effect from September 20. This biosphere reserve will cover an area of 4755.997 sq.km., he said in a reply to a question by K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao in Rajya Sabha.

During the Green India Mission Public Consultations here on July 5, Mr. Jairam Ramesh had said “MoEF had asked the State nine months ago to declare Seshachalam and Chintapalli as bio-reserves.” Designating Chintapalle as BR area would entail UNESCO funding to protect genetic elements. This, however, would prevent the tribals from exploiting natural resources by resorting to shifting cultivation (podu).

Link - http://hindu.com/2010/12/15/stories/...1553341100.htm

[Sabyasachi Patra]

It is well known that the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh is trying to lease out lands to mining and other industries on a war footing. Pristine wilderness areas are being lost. Wetlands are branded as wastelands and handed over to industries. Prime forest lands are also given away. Declaration of Chintapalle Biosphere Reserve would lead to slowing down this process. So the AP Govt. will not do it.