Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday, 16 June met Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav in New Delhi to seek Central support for the state's Great Green Wall initiative, coastal conservation along its 1,050 km coastline, and a range of wildlife protection measures. The wide-ranging discussions covered tiger conservation, human-animal conflict mitigation, and livelihood support for indigenous forest communities.

Great Green Wall and Coastal Conservation

Pawan Kalyan pressed for enhanced Central backing under the Green India Mission and requested expeditious wildlife clearances for the Sontyam Road project in Visakhapatnam. He also raised the need to keep the Godavari river free from municipal and industrial pollution, seeking the Union minister's guidance on actionable steps.

The Deputy Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the Centre's prior approval of the Aranyaram Common Facility Centre (Training and Research), which houses four units: the HANUMAN Animal Conflict Mitigation Centre, the Great Green Wall Monitoring Centre, the Forest Fire Command and Control Centre, and the State Tiger Monitoring Centre.

Tiger Conservation and Wildlife Protection

A significant portion of the meeting focused on strengthening tiger conservation in Andhra Pradesh. Pawan Kalyan requested support to expand base camps in the NSTR region from the current 90 to 150, a move that could generate approximately 300 employment opportunities for local Chenchu youth as Forest Watchers — combining ecological protection with sustainable livelihoods for an indigenous community.

He further requested provisions for motorcycles and free ration facilities for Forest Watchers deployed in remote forest areas, to improve their mobility and welfare. According to reports, Bhupender Yadav responded positively to these proposals.

To bolster genetic diversity in Andhra Pradesh's tiger population, Pawan Kalyan requested the induction of tigresses from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. During the meeting, Yadav reportedly spoke directly with Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, extending his support for facilitating the inter-state transfer.

Human-Animal Conflict and Kumki Elephants

Pawan Kalyan raised the issue of human-animal conflict in Parvatipuram district, requesting trained Kumki elephants from Odisha to help manage the situation. Kumki elephants — trained to herd or calm wild elephants — are a proven tool in conflict mitigation across South and Central India.

Minister's Assurances and Next Steps

Bhupender Yadav assured full Central cooperation and expressed his willingness to personally visit Andhra Pradesh on 12 August, coinciding with International Elephant Day. He indicated that necessary approvals and sanctions for the proposals discussed would be prioritised before his visit.

Pawan Kalyan stated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state remains committed to protecting forests, conserving wildlife, and building a greener, more sustainable Andhra Pradesh for future generations. With the Union minister's visit now on the calendar, the pace of approvals on these conservation proposals will be closely watched.