Forest and Environment minister S Vijayarama Raju said that the central government has suspended the approval of diverting 274 acres of the Kothaguda Reserve Forest Area in Sherilingampally mandal, Ranga Reddy district, to an eco-tourism project.
In his reply to a question raised by TRS MLAs T Harish Rao and others during Question Hour in the Assembly on Saturday, the minister said that the union ministry of Environment & Forests had decided to suspend the approval accorded under the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 for the diversion of the Kothaguda land.
The Centre also directed the state government and project proponents concerned to immediately suspend all construction activities, felling of trees, digging of soil and other similar activities until the ministry of Environment and Forests takes full stock of the situation and takes a final decision on the matter. "Hence, all the activities in the eco-tourism projects in Kothaguda RF were stopped since March 18, 2011," he said. (INN)