From being a much sought-after delicacy found in abundance in the Godavari and Krishna rivers, to figuring in the global IUCN Red List of threatened species, the fringed-lipped carp (Labeo fimbriatus) has been hunted almost to extinction, thanks to unscientific overharvesting.

A serious effort is hence being made by the Andhra Pradesh Biodiversity Board to revive the once-popular fish species by introducing fingerlings this monsoon, to start with, in the Godavari river system in Adilabad district.

Twenty-three suicides reported in Adilabad district since November 2011

In a scenario dominated by Bt cotton, only those farmers in Adilabad seem to be safe and happy who have practically given up cotton cultivation. Many farmers, especially those with smaller holdings, are finding the economics of Bt cotton to be really deadly. Some 23 suicides by cotton farmers have been reported in the district since November last year. In a majority of these instances, the farmers were caught in debt traps.

According to the 2010 Wildlife Institute census, the state had 72 tigers and this excluded an estimated 15 tiger cubs. The state, on the other hand, boasted of a much larger figure — 105 tigers just a decade ago.

Speaking to media persons here on Thursday, the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Mr Hitesh Malhotra, said that the tiger population is reducing in the Godavari region due to widespread destruction of their habitat.

In a significant step, the state government on Tuesday notified Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve despite serious objections from pro-Telangana political parties. The core area of the Kawal tiger reserve has been declared as 892 square kilometer with a buffer zone of 1123 sq. km which falls under Adilabad district. Approximately 21 habitations within the buffer zone are excluded from the tiger reserve.

NEW DELHI: Senior forest officials are slated to meet environment and forests minister Jayanthi Natarajan to yet again raise complaints against the Forest Rights Act. Even as they are set to raise issues on implementation of the Act, the Forest Advisory Committee, stacked with senior forest officials and three non-government experts on board, has given the nod to several projects without adhering to the ministry's directive that keeps the clearance process in alignment with the Act.

The Kawal Tiger Sanctuary in Adilabad, which is yet to be officially established, may run into a controversy with tribals unwilling to move out of the forest reserve area.

About 4,000 tribals who live in 43 settlements in the area — which was declared the Kawal Tiger Sanctuary on June 26 this year — held a meeting at Jannaram mandal on Tuesday to protest the setting up of the sanctuary.

The forest reserve is said to be home to at least six tigers, a number of leopards and a large prey base.

A fact-finding team representing a collective of 40 farmers' organisations, Raitu Swarajya Vedika, has found an alarming rise in the number of suicides by farmers — as many as 90 in the last month alone — in Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, Medak, Mahbubnagar and Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The Rs 3,375 crore phase-I of the Godavari drinking water project, aimed at bringing 172 million gallons of water per day to the city, is likely to run into rough weather. The Irrigat-ion and Command Area Development authorities say it may be difficult to supply 10 tmc of water from the Yellampally barrage until the water is brought from Pranahitha.

State-owned Singareni Collieries Co Ltd has achieved financial closure for its proposed Rs 6,000-crore thermal power plant project coming up in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh, marking a significant step in the coal miner's foray into power.

Power Finance Corporation (PFC) has agreed to provide the total debt component of Rs 4,000 crore for the proposed 2X600 MW power project, Mr S.

Visakhapatnam/Rajahmundry/Adilabad
Aug. 10: The monsoons and the floods have left many regions in the state vulnerable to outbreak of seasonal diseases including diarrhoea, malaria, cholera, jaundice and chikungunya.

According to the assistant malaria officer in Adilabad, Mr B. Venkateshwarlu, 92 positive malaria cases have so far been identified in the district.