No disruptions for devotees travelling to Srisailam: CM

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed the Forest Department to ensure that devotees travelling to the Srisailam temple via the forest route do not face any difficulties. He also instructed officials to extend full cooperation for road repairs in forest areas.
During a review meeting with ministers and secretaries at the State Secretariat on Tuesday, Special Chief Secretary (Forest) G. Ananta Ramu presented a report on the department’s progress till January this financial year and the action plan for the remaining two months.
Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy informed the Chief Minister that several ‘Shaiva’ pilgrimage sites are located within forest areas and that devotees visiting these temples are facing inconveniences due to Forest Department regulations. Taking serious note of the issue, the Chief Minister instructed field-level officials to ensure that devotees do not face any disruptions.
CM Naidu also emphasised the need to expand greenery to make Andhra Pradesh a pollution-free state. He urged the Municipal and Urban Development Departments to adopt the best pollution control practices followed in other states. He further instructed the Forest Department to utilise NREGS funds for large-scale contour trench construction in forest areas.
The Chief Minister noted that Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan is actively working on bringing ‘Kumki’ elephants from Karnataka to tackle the elephant menace in certain parts of the state.
He directed officials to expedite the process with full cooperation.