PK calls for faster execution of great green wall project

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Forests and Environment Pawan Kalyan has directed officials to accelerate the implementation of the Great Green Wall of Andhra Pradesh, the coalition government’s flagship environmental initiative aimed at protecting the state’s coastline from climate change and ecological degradation. He instructed the Forest Department to complete the 2026-27 plantation targets within the next two months by taking advantage of favourable weather conditions.

Reviewing the project’s progress with senior forest officials on Monday, Pawan Kalyan assessed division-wise achievements, plantation targets, mangrove expansion, and the number of saplings planted so far. He lauded officials for helping Andhra Pradesh secure the second position nationally in mangrove expansion over the past two years, describing it as a significant milestone in the state’s environmental conservation efforts.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the government has prepared an action plan to expand the Great Green Wall across 8,888 hectares this year along the state’s 1,053-km coastline, creating a five-kilometre-wide green buffer to safeguard coastal ecosystems against cyclones, erosion, and the growing impacts of climate change.

As part of the VBG Ramji initiative, an additional 70 lakh saplings will be supplied to coastal districts, strengthening the plantation drive. Pawan Kalyan also emphasised large-scale development of 5,000 hectares of palm plantations, noting that palm trees act as natural windbreaks along canals, water bodies, and coastal stretches. He called for greater public participation in developing palm groves and community forests through awareness campaigns.

Highlighting the government’s achievements, he said Andhra Pradesh expanded mangrove forests over 740 hectares in 2024-25 and 1,930 hectares in 2025-26, earning national recognition.