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Naga Babu Konidela, brother of Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, has been appointed to a Cabinet rank post in the state government. He has been nominated as the chairperson of the executive committee of the Andhra Pradesh Society for Greening &
Reforestation for Ecological Enrichment (AP-GREEN), under the Environment and Forests Department, through a government order issued on August 17.
Pawan Kalyan also holds the portfolio of Environment and Forests.
Naga Babu is presently a Member of Legislative Council, and the general secretary of Janasena Party in Andhra Pradesh.
AP-GREEN is expected to work towards increasing the combined forest and tree cover to 50% of the geographical area of Andhra Pradesh by the year 2047. It has been constituted because the existing Social Forestry Wing of the Forest Department has “limited institutional capacity and outreach to undertake such a largescale, convergence-based programme involving active participation of Government departments, local bodies, educational institutions, industries, civil society organizations, communities, and the general public,” according to the Forest Department.
Along with AP-GREEN, District Greening Development Agencies (DGDAs) have also been formed under it for implementing the State Greening Mission. Eleven existing Social Forestry Divisions are being converted into DGDAs, along with 14 new ones in the remaining districts.
Pawan Kalyan will be the chairperson of the AP-GREEN whereas Naga Babu will be the vice-chairperson, chairing the executive committee.
“As per the approved composition of the Executive Committee of AP-GREEN, the Committee shall be headed by a Chairperson, who shall be nominated by Government and accorded Cabinet-rank status for effective functioning of the Society,” the government order constituting the executive committee said.
The executive committee will include several officials including the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest & Head of Forest Force, and Commissioners of Agriculture, Panchayat Raj and Rural Development, School Education, and other departments.