“REVIVAL OF SESHACHALA BIODIVERSITY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY”-TTD EO

TIRUMALA, AUGUST 9:  The restoration and conservation of the rich bio-diversity of Seshachala Ranges is one of the top priorities of the temple administration of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTDs) said the Executive Officer of TTD Sri MG Gopal.

Addressing the media persons in Tirumala after inspecting the Sandalwood plantation area, pepper creepers land etc. he said following the instructions of Hon’ble AP Chief Minister Sri N Chandra Babu Naidu TTD is keen to revive the rich bio-diversity of Seshachalam which was neglected during the last few years due to lack of enough manpower. “This has led to the massive forest fire few months ago in Tirumala ranges which has engulfed several acres of land to ashes. But now we have deployed 700 staff members to look after the development of forest cover and they have been working day and night to protect the rich bio diversity in Tirumala ranges by laying fire lines, barricading, fire walls etc ”, EO added.

Adding further Sri Gopal said, there are over 2000 species of flora, fauna and birds in the vast green cover of Seshachalam ranges. “Even during the massive forest fire, the blessings of the Almighty was with us as the worthless Acacia plants were burnt to ashes providing scope to plant useful and medicinal species in their place”, he added.

The EO said, “TTD is keen to develop the pepper creepers and designing an action plan for the same so that we can produce nearly 1200 tonnes of pepper on our own. For this we need host plant and we have identified medicinal host plants in our Ayurvedic Plantation field itself that would help in the growth of both pepper as well for sandalwood plantations”, he maintained.

Tirumala JEO Sri KS Sreenivasa Raju, TTD DFO Sri Siva Ram were also present.

ISSUED  BY PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER TTDs, TIRUPATI