Karimnagar, Aug. 18: Even while various trade unions are trying to ensure the participation of the Singareni coalminers in the ensuing nation-wide strike call on August 20, the Singareni management has launched a campaign to persuade the workmen to desist from the one-day strike.

Hyderabad, July 20: Forest fire causes major disaster to the vegetation in the state. Forest fires amount to 13.53 per cent of total blazes in the country. After Mizoram and Orissa, Andhra Pradesh has the largest number of fire spots according to the ministry of environment and forest department. Khammam, Kadapa and Prakasam figure in the list of top 30 districts with the highest number of fire incidents.

Adilabad, July 18: Not only the farmers, but the forest officials of the Kawal wildlife sanctuary are praying to the rain gods to stop the tribals from the felling of trees as part of the ongoing second phase of the Bhoo poratam led by left parties. It is alleged that tribals in some parts of the Jannaram division (wildlife management) are felling trees and encroaching upon forest land in anticipation that they may acquire these plots if they begin cultivation.

The anomaly in the latest tiger census in the state including at the Kawal wildlife sanctuary in Adilabad has raised doubts over the methods of tabulation followed by the officials. The variation in the figures were revealed when Kawal sanctuary officials increased the tiger count from nine to 19 on being questioned by senior officials in Hyderabad on the low number of the animals.

Chemical effluents released from factories that came up on the outskirts of Adilabad town into the tanks of the surrounding villages caused the death of 40 quintals of fish in the last two days. Villagers and fishermen of Chanda (T) village of Adilabad staged a protest on Wednesday along with dead fish brought in gunny bags alleging negligence on the part of officials concerned in taking action against managements of private factories that released harmful effluents.