Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Tuesday, called upon people to save trees to protect the environment.
Inaugurating the 63rd Vanamahotsavam program by planting a sapling at the Tummalur Reserve Forest in Ranga Reddy district, the chief minister said that it is the responsibility of every citizen to save and protect trees, to prevent further damage to the environment.
"If people neglect greenery, they will have to pay a heavy fine for their health," he said.
Kiran Kumar Reddy said that the government is making efforts to utilize the red sandalwood recently seized in raids in the state.
Stating that government has seized 9,000 tons of red sandalwood so far, he said that the government was holding consultations with the Centre to sell it in the international market. He said that the government would earn about Rs. 300-400 crore with the sale.
On the occasion, the chief minister also launched the ambitious program of planting 20 lakh saplings program across AP.
Home minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy, Forest And Environment minister Satrucharla Vijayarama Raju and nearly 2,000 students planted saplings in the Tummalur Reserve Forest. (INN)