The third phase of Haritha Haram, one of the flagship programmes of the State government, witnessed a rare camaraderie as officials and political leaders cutting across power and prestige took part with great delight.
Deputy Chief Minister Kadiyam Srihari launched the programme at Jangaon and Warangal Urban districts while the Tribal welfare minister A. Chandulal led the programme in Bhupalpalli and Mahabubabad districts. Similarly, collectors and elected representatives undertook massive plantation programme involving students in large numbers in all five districts of Warangal.
Warangal rural district collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil addressing the gathering at Parkal mandal said, it was decided that 1.10 crore saplings would be planted. He wanted each one to plant ten trees and talked about green fund society, which was constituted on the contribution of a day’s salary of the employees. “We have ₹ 7 lakh with which we plan to buy tree guards and pay for upkeep of plants,†he said.
At Jangaon district, Mr. Srihari urged people to cooperate with the State government in increasing the forest cover from 22 to 33 per cent in the next few years. “Nowhere in the country such a massive plantation programme has been taken up. Everybody should cooperate to make it a grand success,†he said.
District collector A. Devasena said the Jangaon district had only one per cent of forest as against the average of 33 per cent. There was urgent need to improve the forest cover. “ I request every individual in the district to join this noble mission,†she said.
Collective responsibility
Kamareddy Special Correspondent writes: Agriculture Minister Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, on Wednesday, formally launched the third phase of the Telangana Haritha Haram programme by planting saplings here and also at Dichpally mandal headquarters in Nizamabad district.
Launching the programme at the Government degree college ground, he emphasised that increasing the green cover was a collective responsibility. Degradation of environment and deforestation would cost dearly to the human society and wildlife, he said.
Srinivas Reddy observed the participation of students, and officials in Haritha Haram on College ground as well as CSI ground. He administered an oath to them to protect the saplings. About 7,200 saplings were planted on the occasion. Tree guards were also arranged for some of the plants.
Government Whip G. Govardhan, MLC D. Rajeswar, ZP Chairman D. Raju, Jukkal MLA Hanmanth Shinde, Collector N. Satyanarayana, Joint Collector Sathaiah, SP N. Swetha, Food Commission Chairman Tirumal Reddy and Municipal Council Chairsperson P. Sushma participated in it. The Minister, later, along with Nizamabad rural MLA Bajireddy Govardhan, planted saplings at Dichpally mandal headquarters and Bardipur village in the mandal.
For the future
Adilabad Special Correspondent reports : The Adilabad Zilla Parishad chairperson V. Shobha Rani on Wednesday administered the oath of Talanganaku Haritha Haram (THH) to school students at an impressive programme to launch the third phase of the plantation drive at Indira Priyadarshini stadium in the town. Speakers gave a call to plant saplings and safeguard them in order to protect the environment.
Adilabad MP G. Nagesh said THH was aimed at improving forest cover. If plantation is not taken up now, the younger generation was likely to suffer in coming years, he added.
Earlier, Additional Principal Chief Conservatior of Forests Swargam Srinivas, who is THH in-charge of Adilabad Forest Circle, flagged off a students’ rally. Students also formed a human chain at collector chowk as part of the rally.
Adilabad Collector Buddha Prakash M. Jyoti, Superintendent of Police M. Sreenivas, Joint Collector K. Krishna Reddy, and Conservator of Forest S.K. Gupta also participated.
At Kumram Bheem Asifabad district, Asifabad MLA Kova Laxmi and Collector M. Champa Lal launched the THH while at Mancherial district Mancherial MLA N. Diwakar Rao, MLC Puranam Satish and Collector R.V. Karnan launched it. At Nirmal, it was Housing Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy and Collector Ilambarithi and at Bellampalli and Srirampur area mines of Singareni Collieries it was the Company's Director (Project and Planning) Bhaskar Rao who inaugurated the plantation drive.