CEO of APMAPB Avula Chandrasekhar Receives Prestigious Award; Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan Launches ‘Hanuman’ Project

CEO of APMAPB Avula Chandrasekhar Receives Prestigious Award; Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan Launches ‘Hanuman’ Project

Mangalagiri, March 3: Senior Forest Department officer and CEO of the AP Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Board (APMAPB), Avula Chandrasekhar, received a prestigious award on the occasion of World Wildlife Day. Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan presented him with a citation and honoured him at a programme held at the APSP Battalion grounds in Mangalagiri on Tuesday.

Marking World Wildlife Day, observed this year under the theme “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants – Health, Heritage and Livelihood Enhancement,” the Deputy Chief Minister also launched the ‘Hanuman’ Foundation Project aimed at reducing human-wildlife conflict.

Addressing the gathering, Pawan Kalyan said the project’s primary objective is to minimise crop loss and prevent loss of human life due to wildlife incursions. He stated that the Hanuman Foundation would ensure immediate response to incidents, provide timely assistance and facilitate compensation to affected families.

The Deputy CM announced that 100 vehicles have been provided to the Forest Department under the project. Nineteen emergency response teams have been formed across the State, and seven emergency treatment and rehabilitation centres have been established. He added that since the formation of the coalition government, ₹4 crore has been paid as compensation to victims of wildlife attacks. Crop loss compensation is being disbursed based on market value, he said.

He also noted that trained ‘kumki’ elephants were brought from Karnataka to help control wild elephants. Emphasising that wildlife conservation is a shared responsibility, he said animals too have a rightful place on the planet alongside humans. He commended Forest Department officials for meticulously designing the project and announced that voluntary organisations would also be involved in its implementation.

During the programme, the Deputy CM unveiled a GPS tracking system and inspected a wildlife conservation exhibition organised by the Forest Department. He presented appreciation certificates to officials, NGO representatives and volunteers involved in wildlife protection. Rescue vehicles and ambulances were handed over to the Forest Department under the Hanuman Project.

Minister Kandula Durgesh, Principal Secretary (Environment, Forest, Science and Technology) Kantilal Dande, PCCF Dr. P.V. Chalapathi Rao, Government Adviser P. Mallikarjuna Rao, Guntur District Collector A. Thameem Ansariya, and senior Forest Department officials were among those present at the event.