Ministers call for mass tree plantation

• Anantapur has forest cover little above 12 per cent: JC
• Green cover increased by 2.39 per cent: DFO

Anantapur: Minister for ICDS and Women and Child Welfare Paritala Sunitha and Minister for Rural Housing and I&PR Kalava Srinivasulu appealed to the people, students and farmers and women folk to participate in green movement and not only to plant trees but also to ensure their survival.

Addressing the 69th Vana Mahotsavam celebrations organised by the Forest department here on Saturday at the JNTU Auditorium, the Ministers said that the tree plantation, if taken seriously by all sections, would change the face of the district. They especially asked students to plant at least one sapling and take care of its survival and growth.

Paritala Sunitha complimented Kalava Srinivasulu for embarking on a massive tree plantation as well 85 percent of their survival. Local MLA Prabhakar Choudhury, in his address, outlined the steps taken in the city with the initiative taken up by Municipal Corporation to make the city green and beautiful.

He called upon housewives to take up tree plantation in their residential premises as well on the streets within their house vicinity. Joint Collector Dilli Rao said that 33 per cent of forest cover should be ensured in the district. Presently, it is a little above 12 per cent.

The district has to go a long way to reach the goal of 33 per cent forest cover, he stated. While population is increasing at an alarming rate, the land mass remained the same, he added.

JNTUA Vice-Chancellor Srinivasa Rao said that one person requires 750 kgs of oxygen to live. As many as 6 trees together produce the oxygen needed for one person in one year.

District Forest Officer (DFO) Chandrasekhar Reddy revealed that according to the Survey of India reports, green cover in Anantapur increased by 2.39 per cent.