Hyderabad | March 10, 2016: State Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao directed the forest officials to take immediate steps to prevent illegal mining of quarries around the Kotappakonda. He said that the issue has been already explained to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. The pilgrim place was to be developed as an eco-tourism project.

Unless the illegal mining activity was prevented at the initial stages the hills around the place would vanish, he pointed out. Kodela also discussed with the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests S B L Mishra on setting up a mini zoo in Kotappakonda. Though the place is an abode for different species of trees and animals, he stressed to bring in more to that place.

For this, it was decided to spend around Rs 50 lakh during the current fiscal for the development of the mini zoo. Responding to this, Mishra said that a plan of action would be prepared by the end of this March, and works would be taken up on war-footing by pooling up necessary funds in the next financial year.

(Source: http://www.thehansindia.com/)