Amaravati, January 07, 2026: Deputy Chief Minister and Forests Minister Pawan Kalyan chaired a key review with senior forest officials in Velagapudi.
He stressed urgent action to protect coastal forests, curb encroachments, and build resilience along the state's 974-km coastline. Officials must create a detailed roadmap by January's end and form a special multi-department task force for oversight.
Pawan Kalyan highlighted plans for a five-km-wide green belt using mangroves, casuarina, and palm trees to defend coastal areas from storms and disasters.
He pointed to existing plantations covering 402 km and called for a study on land in the Coastal Regulation Zone.
About 10,000 acres of mangroves identified via satellite will gain formal protection.
The Great Green Wall initiative will roll out in phases, starting with coastal work, then canals and roads, and agro-forestry on farms, drawing funds from CAMPA, Green Climate Fund, CSR, and MGNREGS. He urged involving local communities in guarding these areas.
