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Hyderabad, Oct. 26 The Andhra Pradesh Government has requested the Centre to permit imposition of 5 per cent levy on forest product to create a separate forest development fund.

A formal communication in this regard was sent to the Government of India, Mr S. Vijayarama Raju, Minister for Forests, Environment, Science & Technology, Government of Andhra Pradesh, said at the valedictory function of Southern States Forest Ministers’ conference here on Sunday.

“We have also requested for creation of a national body for protection of red sanders and sandalwood,” he added.

During the two-day meet, the southern States had resolved to create a ‘Forest Development Fund’. All the revenue in the form of cell/tax/fee on mining/sale of forest produce should be credit to this fund and the Union Government should allow the States to levy a cess of 5 per cent on forest produce, according to a resolution adopted at the end of meeting.

The resolution has also requested the Centre to consider eco-tourism as a forestry activity and earmark 1 per cent on the protected area of 10 ha of it (whichever is less) for development of visitor amenities in relaxation of the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

The Act should also be amended to delegate powers to the chief wildlife warden to deal with capture and translocation of wild animals, to transfer all captive animals within the State from one zoo to another, and notify prolific-breeders to vermin category for a certain period, the resolution said.

The forestry sector should also be included as ‘mission mode project’; under to National e-Governance Plan for improved service delivery to the citizens. An environment cell should be created in each State Forest Department with adequate funding and technical support, it added.

More Stories on : Environment | Andhra Pradesh

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