Andhra Pradesh today sought "quick clearances" from the Centre for diversion of forest areas to enable the bifurcated state to achieve double digit growth through industrialisation.
Delivering his address at the conference of state environment ministers here, Environment and Forest Minister B Gopala Krishna Reddy said that Andhra Pradesh is planning industrialisation in the state to compete with neighbouring states and to achieve double digit growth rate.
"I request the Government of India to ensure quick clearances of request for diversion of forest areas to enable Andhra Pradesh to progress," he said.
The Minister also sought Centre's support for setting up wood based industries in Andhra Pradesh as such industries remained in Telangana after bifurcation.
Stating that forest area in Andhra Pradesh is 36 lakh hectares, which is 23 per cent of state's geographic area, he said another 12 lakh hectares would be added to increase the tree cover to 33 per cent.
"For the next five years 12 lakh hectares of tree cover will be added with a financial outlay of Rs 2,000 crores," Reddy added.
