Over 1 lakh trees cut down illegally during YSRCP rule: V’wada MP

In response to a query from Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath about tree loss during the last five years under the YSRCP regime, Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav reported that 104,396 trees were illegally cut down in Andhra Pradesh during this period. Annamayya district saw the highest number of illegal tree felling, with 27,178 trees removed, followed by Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district with 25,953 trees. The Minister also highlighted that illegal tree-cutting occurred across 13 districts in the state.
Additionally, the Minister revealed that Andhra Pradesh’s forest cover has decreased by 769.66 hectares over the past five years. Specifically, the Guntur district experienced a reduction of 165.07 hectares, while the ASR district saw a slight decrease of 2.24 hectares. It was noted that forest areas have diminished significantly in all eleven districts of the state. The “Trees Outside Forests in India” (TOFI) program has been introduced in Andhra Pradesh, along with other states including Assam, Haryana, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
Following the statement, MP Sivanath criticised the current administration, alleging that the 104,396 trees were cut down specifically for the benefit of YS Jagan. He claimed that the previous government had erected screens to obstruct public view of Jagan’s convoy, leading to illegal tree felling. Sivanath accused Jagan of harming both the state’s economic situation and its environment.