Ministers give a call to plant trees, save nature

Secunderabad: Around 2000 saplings were planted by students, residents and ministers on the stretch of Rasoolpura to Ranigunj in Secunderabad. Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav participated in the event on Monday and called upon people to take up tree plantation compulsorily by becoming partners in protecting the environment.

The minister said that the State government had been planting crores of saplings for the past four years under Haritha Haram programme. He urged people to be aware of widespread pollution in the city and reminded them that India's capital city Delhi was forced to announce holidays for schools due to extreme pollution. "To avoid such circumstances in our state we must start and continue tree plantation for protecting the environment," he exhorted.

Allola Indrakaran Reddy, Minister of Endowments, Law, Forest and Environment, expressed concern that 33% of forest land cover was reduced to 24% from 33% earlier, He said human life was dependent on trees and everyone should plant saplings to provide healthy environment for future generations.

The Panchayat Raj Act was introduced to provide awareness among rural people to increase greenery in villages. Not only plantation but also conservation was the responsibility of the officials and they should work with commitment to turn the villages into green, he added.

Vishwajith, the GHMC Vigilance and Enforcement Director, Nalini Padmavathi, the GHMC Deputy Commissioner, Arunagoud, corporator Sheshukuamri, Taruni, Lakshmi, Rupa, Latha were among those present.