Protecting plants is important as planting: Deputy CM K Narayana Swamy

Tirupati: Protection of plants is equally important as planting them, said the Deputy Chief Minister K Narayana Swamy. Inaugurating 70th Vana Mahotsavam programme at Tukivakam village in Renigunta mandal on Saturday, he said that planting of saplings has become a routine affair without taking any steps to protect them. It must be the duty of every citizen to protect and preserve every plant, he stressed.

The Minister praised TUDA Chairman Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy for providing several useful saplings like coconut, neem, Millettia Pinnata (Kanuga) etc., on behalf of TUDA which also can provide shade to the people. Liquor ban and corruption-free governance are the aims of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, he stated.

Narayana Swamy has complimented District Collector Dr N Bharat Gupta and Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) Commissioner PS Girisha for their efforts in solving the problems of poor.

TUDA Chairman Bhaskar Reddy described Vana Mahotsavam as offering pooja to trees. Keeping in view the aim of CM Jagan in making 'Haritandhra', TUDA will provide 10 lakh saplings for distributing five to each house soon. These will be distributed through volunteers. Srikalahasti MLA B Madhusudan Reddy asked forest officials to lay more focus on increasing green cover in the district.

Bharat Gupta, PS Girisha and others have visited the stalls set up by the Forest department. The Collector said that they have set a target of planting of 3.77 crore saplings in the district during this planting season which was expected to increase green cover by one per cent from the present 39.27 per cent.

He opined that plantation certificate should be given weightage in education and employment opportunities. Chittoor MP N Reddeppa, Tirupati RDO V Kanaka Narasa Reddy, Chief Conservator of Forest S Saravanan, DFOs B Sunilkumar Reddy, R Jagannath Singh, G Srinivasulu and others have participated in the programme. Students of various schools have attended in large number.