Couple challenge mafia, bag biodiversity award
A city-based couple fighting against timber mafia were awarded âJeeva Vyvidhya Rakshakâ (protector of biodiversity) award on Tuesday at AP Forest Academy in Dulapally. The couple, M. Sujata and M. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, who runs a society for wilderness and wildlife protection were conferred the award by the state Biodiversity Board.
Ms Sujata said, âWe have been waging a battle against the timber mafia in the city outskirts in Medak and Ranga Reddy districts. Trees were cut indiscriminately in forest and non-forest lands and timber was reaching Hyderabad in lorries. We stopped the lorries on many occasions and handed over them to the forest department.â The couple had to face threats from goons following this. Dr P. Ramesh, coordinator of Krishi Vigyan Kendra of Adilabad, was given the award for storing the local crop varieties to protect gene bank. Ornithologist Mrutunjeya Rao, who worked on Telineelapuram bird sanctuary, and Dr R. Prabhakar, who formed 30 biodiversity committee for promotion of clay idols were also given awards.
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