25 cr saplings to be planted across Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said that the Vanam-Manam programme should be organised extensively to plant one crore saplings in the state on July 14. Naidu will launch the programme at Nuzvid in Krishna district on Saturday and it will be continued for 127 days till Vana Mahotsavam organised in Karthika Masam.

Addressing a review meeting on Vanam-Manam at Grievance Hall in Undavalli on Saturday, Naidu said everyone should take responsibility to make the programme a grand success and to increase forest cover from existing 26 to 50 per cent by 2019. He asked the officials to use NREGS funds to increase greenery on the sides of highways and railway lines.

He said rain harvesting measures should be taken up in forest region to improve greenery, ground water levels and to save animals. Stating that plantation programme should be taken up in schools in a big way and fruit bearing plants should be planted along with environmental-friendly plants, Naidu said a DFO would be appointed to raise nurseries and to make the programme a grand success.

He said officials should adopt plant cloning system on par with the USA and both the horticulture and forest department officials should coordinate with each other. Stating that the plant protection responsibility should be given to self-help groups, Naidu said five bird sanctuaries in the state would be developed and mangrove forests would be protected.

Priority should be given to grow medicinal plants, Naidu said and added the ministers and officials would take the responsibility to plant saplings in all districts by conducting necessary campaign.

CMO chief secretary Satish Chandra, secretary Rajamouli and principal secretary of forests Anantaramu were present. Meanwhile, environment and forests minister Sidda Raghava Rao said that 22 departments volunteered for increase of forest cover across the state.

He said the department aimed for afforestation of 8,691 hectares in 2018-19 of which the shelterbelt plantation will be on 920 hectares, avenue plantation in 828 hectares, mangrove plantations in 438 hectares, block plantation in 1,370 hectares and greening of hillocks on 5,143 hectares. The department has identified 183 hillocks for this purpose.