Forest and Environment Minister Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy said that the preparation for the next phase of tenders would be taken up after the first phase comes to an end on December 31.

Speaking to the media here on Monday, Gopalakrishna Reddy said instructions were issued to the forest authorities to shift the red sanders logs that were seized and kept in the godowns of various forest offices in different locations for their safe custody and also for grading, as a preparation for the next phase of tender for selling.

On the increased wild elephant menace, the Minister said the digging up of trenches to prevent the elephants straying into human habitations was nearing completion. This apart, the forest authorities were directed to take adequate steps to check the elephants straying into villages, he added.

In this connection, the Minister said, following complaints from the affected farmers about inadequate compensation for the crop loss by the forest department, the government will review the scale of compensation to be provided to those who suffered damages in the wild animals’ attack.

Answering a question, he said that there was no problem for clearing the dues to be payable by the two cooperative sugar factories to the farmers, which he said would be paid soon.

To another question on pensions, he said that the government was constantly monitoring the problems faced by the beneficiaries and was striving to improve the present system so as to ensure to remit the payment in their account itself. This would help them instead of going to post office or banks.

Earlier, the Minister held a meeting with district MLAs and MP at the behest of the Chief Minister, who wanted the district Minister to hold a meeting with them twice a month.

The Minister later held a meeting with the party activists.

Sources said that the Minister in his meeting with party leaders including MLAs, MP discussed on the nominated posts as well as the aspirants, constituency-wise.