AP State govt targets 50% greenery

Amaravati: The state government is aiming to ensure 50 per cent greenery in the state by 2029 under Mission Harita Andhra Pradesh. As of now, the notified forest cover in the state is 22.65 per cent and another 2.48 per cent is non-notified forest cover, according to official statistics. Thus, it comes to around 25 per cent forest cover of the total geographical land in the state. 

On the occasion of successful completion of Vanam Manam programme for this year recently, forests and environment sciences minister Sidda Raghava Rao interacted with The Hans India here on Monday. He said the state government planted more than 27 crore saplings under the Vanam Manam programme with collaboration of all the departments so far.

The forest department planted more than 8.5 crore saplings, panchayat raj over two crore, horticulture department 5.8 crore, tribal welfare department more than 1 crore, besides other departments to chipping in. Apart from it, paper mill industries also planted nearly nine crore saplings in the state following a call given by the forest department, Raghava Rao said. 

According to the minister, the forest department distributed 12.7 crore saplings under the Vanam Manam programme. Saplings of forest species like teak, red sanders, banyan, fruit varieties guava, mango, lime and others were planted.  Raghava Rao said that to ensure 50 per cent greenery in the state, the government has to increase greenery on additional 25 per cent of geographical area. 

In fact, state doesn't even have the ideal level of forest cover as per international norms, which is 33 per cent. At this juncture, setting high target in improving greenery is a healthy sign. The forests minister said that the state government planted more than 50 crore saplings in the last four years.

Block plantation took place in more than 26,000 hectare and avenue plantation was done in 1,500 km length and nearly 3,000 tonne seeds were sown. In addition, panchayat raj department did nearly 20,000 km avenue plantation along and the roads, he informed. As a result of the government initiatives, more than 2,100 sq km greenery was added in the state, Raghava Rao said.