Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao today said that there was a need to protect the environment around the fast developing and geographically growing Hyderabad city and its neighbouring regions.

The CM, according to an official release, said that there was 1.5 lakh acres of forest land available in a radius of 50 to 60 kilometres around the city and it should be developed into forest blocks for fresh air.

Rao instructed the Chief Secretary, Municipal and Forest Ministers, Chief Conservator of Forests, and other senior officials to visit Hyderabad and study its surrounding forest areas to find out what could be done to develop it.

"This should be done as part of the "Save Hyderabad" campaign," Rao said.

He stated that green cover should spread in these areas rapidly, adding that the Musi riverfront and Hyderabad Urban Forestry should be specially developed and funds should be spent on them, the release said.

The release informed that Rao wanted a walkway at the Musi riverfront similar to the one in KBR park here.

The CM, while stating that the Panchayat Raj Act Bill should be introduced in the legislature at a special session before the Budget session, reviewed the progress made on the draft Bill and the formation of new rural and urban Panchayats.

He instructed the state's Finance Secretary to make a provision in the Budget to provide between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 30 lakh every year to gram panchayats, based on their population, the release added.