Memorial for YSR at crash site not feasible

Hyderabad
Sept. 8: The state government’s proposal to erect a memorial for the late chief minister, Dr Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy, at the site of the accident in the Nallamalla forests is likely to run into rough weather on two counts.
The area falls in a protected wildlife sanctuary that is home to the highly protected tigers, and it is also inhabited by Maoist groups.
The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who chaired a cabinet meeting immediately after swearing in the cabinet, had announced that the government would construct a memorial in Hyderabad as well as at the accident spot in the Nallamalla hills.
Another memorial is also planned on YSR’s Idupulapaya estate near Pulivendla.
The place where the Bell 430-helicopter crashed, killing Dr Rajasekhar Reddy and four others, at Pavuralatippa, 30 km from Atmakur, is located in the core tiger area known as Gundla Brahmeswara Wildlife Sanctuary.
Tigers, panthers, sloth bears, wild dogs,
hyenas, jungle cats, langurs, bonnet monkeys, marsh crocodiles, pangolin, sambar, nilgai, chowsinga, chinkara and mouse deer are some of the species found here.
Sources in the forest department said all types of construction activity is banned in notified sanctuaries. “It’s true the accident spot is located in a notified tiger sanctuary, the Gundla Brahmeswara Wildlife Sanctuary. All construction activity is banned in a tiger reserve unless permitted by the central government and the Central Board for Wildlife,” said Mr A. V. Joseph, additional principal conservator of forests (Admn).
The cabinet, it seems took a hasty decision. If a memorial is constructed here roads will have to be laid and basic facilities such as a guest house, lighting arrangements, drinking water and other facilities that are not permitted in reserve forest areas, will have to be provided.