All Industries Must Maintain 33% Green Cover

Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Forest and Environment Minister Pawan Kalyan said environmental protection is as important as industrial development for the state’s economic progress. He urged all industries to strictly comply with environmental regulations and maintain at least 33% green cover within their premises. He called on industrialists to treat green initiatives as a social responsibility and take concrete steps to control pollution.

Pawan Kalyan said extensive plantation around industrial areas could help reduce air pollution and mitigate the impact of climate change. He noted that around 3,400 industries across sectors such as ports, cement, mining, energy, food processing, plastics, paper and textiles are operating across the state. A pilot programme has already been completed at 26 industries covering 129 acres, he said. He urged industries and SEZs in areas including Visakhapatnam, Sri City and Parawada to strictly implement the 33% green-cover requirement. He also called for active participation from the industrial sector in the state’s goal of achieving 50% green cover by 2047.