Two Shades of TS Govt’s Commitment to Environment on A Single Day

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao a little while ago, announced that there would be a complete ban on plastic usage and manufacture in the state. He instructed the officials to prepare a 30 days road map to ban Single-Use plastic. While this step is laudable, one can not be sure of the Government’s commitment to the environment.

On June 30th, Koneru Krishna Rao, the vice-chairman of Asifabad Zilla Parishad and brother of Sirpur TRS MLA, Koneru Konappa and his supporters attacked Ch. Anitha, the forest range officer of Kagaznagar in Sarsala village. This was when Anitha was undertaking plowing work in degraded forest land as part of the afforestation drive planned under the Kaleshwaram project.

Following public outrage, Krishna Rao was suspended from the TRS and ordered to step down from his post. TRS Working President KT Rama Rao tweeted, expressing disapproval at the conduct of the leader. Telangana Forest minister Indrakaran Reddy went to Anitha’s house and made a photo-op.

But as it stands today, Anitha and her boss, Raja Ramana Reddy, the forest divisional officer of Kagaznagar were both transferred. Ramana Reddy’s transfer has been clubbed with three other transfers to make it appear a routine exercise while Anitha was given oral instructions of her transfer.