Ramaiah passed away on Saturday due to a prolonged illness. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2017 for his contribution to increasing tree cover. He is estimated to have planted more than 1 crore saplings in and around the Khammam district in his lifetime.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the demise of Daripalli Ramaiah, lauding him as a "champion of sustainability" for his lifelong dedication to planting and protecting lakhs of trees.