Interview: Minister Konda Surekha explains developing Telangana economy without eroding faith or forests

Hyderabad: With a focus on sustainable use of lakhs of acres of temple lands in the State, Minister for Forest and Environment Konda Surekha detailed the government’s plans for long-term leases of temple lands to boost the economy while upholding religious sanctity.

In an interview with NewsMeter, Minister Konda Surekha outlines a transformative vision for the State’s ecological and spiritual landscape.

The Minister highlighted major green initiatives, including the development of an expansive Urban Eco Park in Narsapur and a strategic partnership to replicate Gujarat’s renowned ‘Vantara’ forest and rescue model.

Furthermore, she emphasised a collaborative approach with tribal communities, transitioning them toward solar-powered horticulture to ensure both environmental conservation and economic prosperity for a ‘Net-Zero’ 2047.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

NewsMeter: With the temple lands being discussed by your department regularly, how are these assets being utilised? What is the strategy?

Konda Surekha: We have a massive amount of temple land in Telangana—it is in lakhs of acres. These are sacred assets, and while we cannot sell them, we are opening them up for long-term leases to generate revenue and development.

We are inviting companies and groups to come forward with proposals. We offer an 11-year lease for various purposes.

You can set up a factory, a business building, a multiplex or even a marriage hall. However, there are strict conditions: since it is temple land, for instance, in a marriage hall, non-vegetarian food is strictly prohibited. You select an area, apply, and we will facilitate the process. This will ensure these lands are protected from encroachment while contributing to the state’s economy.

NM: Which are the most prominent temples in Telangana?

Konda Surekha: Telangana is a land of great spiritual heritage. Some of our most famous temples include:

Yadagirigutta (Yadadri) Temple: Dedicated to Lord Narasimha, it is often called the ‘Tirupati of Telangana’ and sees over 80 lakh to 1 crore devotees annually, especially after the recent grand renovation.

Bhadrachalam Rama Temple: A major pilgrimage site on the banks of the Godavari, attracting roughly 50 lakh devotees a year.

Vemulawada Rajarajeshwara Swamy Temple: Known as ‘Dakshina Kasi’, the temple draws about 60-70 lakh pilgrims annually.

Jogulamba Temple (Alampur): The temple is one of the 18 Shakti Peethas, a key part of our new spiritual tourism circuit.

The increasing footfall at these temples shows that temple tourism has a good scope in the state. The department wants to ensure that devotees and pilgrims have the best experience. The lands in and around these areas are now being developed, which makes it easier to create amenities for those visiting, which also helps the economy of the state.

NM: In eco-tourism, you’ve been talking about making the Narsapur forest in Medak district a priority. Can you elaborate on the plans?

Konda Surekha: Narsapur is just 45 km from Hyderabad. We are transforming the Narsapur Reserve Forest (about 600 acres) into a world-class Urban Eco Park. We are looking at creating watchtowers, a Nature Education Centre and a sustainable economic development where the forest area is also protected.

Implementation of this vision will include:

Accommodation: We have already inaugurated 33 eco-friendly cottages, a guest house and a restaurant serving local Telangana cuisine to encourage weekend stays.

Spectacular viewpoints: We are constructing watchtowers so visitors can get a panoramic view of the entire forest canopy and spot wildlife like spotted deer and peacocks.

Activities for everyone: The project includes trekking trails, cycling paths and a Nature Education Centre to teach children about biodiversity.

Focus on sustainability: We are using sustainable design principles, including check dams for water conservation, ensuring the eco-hub remains a true forest experience without heavy concrete structures.

NM: In most development plans, the environmental surroundings face stress. The same is true for forest zones with tribal groups. How are you planning to balance between the community development and the protection of forests?

Konda Surekha: For tribal communities, we provide ROFR (Recognition of Forest Rights) pattas on the periphery of forest areas. They can practice agriculture there, but the law prohibits them from expanding further into the deep forest. To protect the ecosystem, we don’t allow borewells or electric poles inside; they must source water and power from outside.

There are 2.1 lakh tribal farmers holding ROFR titles covering 6 lakh acres of forest land.

Crucially, the Forest Department is acting as a partner. We are encouraging them to move toward horticulture on 10 to 20-acre plots. This is far more sustainable and will provide them with a much higher, steadier income than traditional farming. The ‘Indira Soura Giri Jala Vikasam’ Scheme, launched in May 2025, has helped tribals in Amrabad and Eturnagaram. This shift will reduce the stress of animal-human conflict and provide sustenance for the tribals.

NM: In the Telangana Rising Global Summit 2025, the state announced the Vantara project. What exactly is being planned?

Konda Surekha: Vantara (means ‘Star of the Forest’) is a massive, world-class animal rescue and rehabilitation initiative started in Gujarat on nearly 3,000 acres. It’s a human-made forest with state-of-the-art veterinary care.

It will be a collaborative effort to create a ‘second Vantara’ here. Our goal will be to create a massive plantation drive and create a forest from scratch.

Subsequently, once the forest matures, we will introduce animals. We won’t start with predators like tigers; we will focus on ‘friendly’ animals like elephants and deer. It will serve as a sanctuary for rescue and a hub for conservation research.

NM: What is the focus of your department for Telangana Rising 2047?

Konda Surekha: Our focus is protect the environment for a better future. Eco-tourism, where moving away from heavy construction toward ‘experiences’, will also be a priority. If our environment is clean, our health will be good. We want to create assets that prioritise conservation over commercialisation, ensuring that our children inherit a green Telangana. We are looking at people’s participation to keep Telangana clean and green. All our efforts are towards that, as only with people’s support are these initiatives possible.