Hyderabad, May 20 (UNI) The first meeting of the Telangana State-Level Authority under the Water, Land, and Trees Act (WALTA), 2002, was held at the Secretariat under the chairmanship of Dr Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, Minister for Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, on Tuesday.
This marked the first such meeting since the formation of Telangana State. The meeting was attended by several dignitaries, including Chevella MLA Kale Yadayya, Secretary of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Lokesh Kumar, Director Srujana, Special Commissioner Shafi Ullah, noted environmentalist Duscharla Satyanarayana, Forest Department Principal Secretary Ahmed Nadim, and senior officials from the MAUD, Irrigation, Groundwater, and other related departments.
During the meeting, Minister Seethakka emphasised the urgent need to implement the WALTA Act strictly in the interest of environmental sustainability and people’s welfare.
She noted that the Act must be enforced from the mandal level to the state level and stressed that public awareness programs are essential to ensure natural resources are used responsibly. She expressed concern that excessive groundwater extraction was depleting natural reserves and urged all departments to focus on preventing water misuse.
The Minister called for collaborative policy-making involving scientists, environmentalists, and government officials, and underlined the need to educate the public about the dangers of groundwater depletion. She suggested that government schools, market yards, and farmers’ forums be used as centers for spreading awareness.
Seethakka remarked that if water in the human body decreases, life is at risk, and similarly, if groundwater decreases, it poses a threat to humanity. She criticised the previous government for failing to hold even a single WALTA Authority meeting in the past decade, despite making grand statements about environmental protection and green Telangana.
She announced that a special drive should be held for a week to spread awareness about WALTA and said that public participation must be increased significantly.
The Minister added that it is not enough to impose restrictions on high-consumption areas without public understanding, as people are unlikely to accept such regulations without knowing the risks involved.
She emphasised the importance of involving artists in awareness campaigns and said WALTA authorities must be activated at every level. MPs, MLAs, and local leaders should form committees and hold regular meetings, and the authorities should meet once every three months.
The Minister also directed that villages be categorised into green, orange, and red zones based on groundwater levels, and their classification should be displayed on the gram panchayat buildings.
A special WALTA fund will be created and used exclusively for environmental initiatives. Strict action will be taken against those violating environmental laws, and efforts like rainwater conservation and pothole management will be continued.
She expressed regret that WALTA Authority meetings had not been held in 10 years, revealing the previous rulers’ negligence toward the environment. She assured that the current government will implement WALTA effectively for the benefit of future generations, for a greener Telangana, and the welfare of farmers.
She reiterated that the objectives of WALTA and the interests of the people are not separate and that the Act must be enforced with the perspective of public and agricultural welfare, an official statement said.
UNI VV BD