GHMC nursery prepping for Haritha Haram drive

Rajendranagar: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) nursery in Rajendranagar plays a pivot role in State government’s flagship programme ‘Harita Haram’. The nursery has hundreds of plant varieties which are distributed during the monsoon season as part of the programme. 

Out of 10 lakh saplings to be distributed this year, the nursery which has more open spaces owing to new developmental activities has a target of 4.5 lakh. Located inside the premises of Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), the nursery is spread on more than three acres land with almost all varieties of plants including fruit bearing, medicinal and flowering plants. “At this nursery we focus on entire process of a particular plant from germination stage till it becomes a sapling, which is ready to be planted,” said Md Abdul Hai, Forest Range Officer, Rajendranagar Circle, South Zone. 

The varieties include Kanuga, Nemalinara, Ravi (Peepal), Pagoda, Spathodea, Tabebuia rosea, Mahogany, Heena, Sapota, Pomegranate, Guava, Bauhinia, Kadamba, China Badam, Rela, Tecoma Argentea, Tecoma gaudichaudi, Plumeria, Nerium, Bougainvillea, Ajwan, Lemon grass, Aloe Vera, Ashwagandha, Tulsi and some other varieties. The other varieties including, Amla (Usiri), Nerium, at least four varieties of roses (Kakinada, red, pink and white), kanakambaram (orange), papaya, curry leaf, mint and some other varieties will soon come up in the nursery. 

During the previous Harita Haram, the nursery helped distribute a major portion of the saplings across the South Zone and also helped plant trees to create avenues across Rajendra Nagar, which include premises of Agricultural University. This year the GHMC increased the target of planting trees for avenues. “The previous year we had a target distribution of seven lakh for South Zone and this year it is 10 lakh saplings. While 10,000 trees will be planted to create avenues in this Circle,” added the official. 

Priyanka Varghese, Haritha Haram Officer on Special Duty recently asked the GHMC officials to scale up their plantation target of 40 lakh plants for the year 2018. At a recently held review meeting, the official recommended taller plants for avenue plantation and also on the drive covering parks, roads, major road junctions, open spaces and even small streets. 

About distribution programme, Abdul Hai said the GHMC had distributed the saplings from 102 centres in South Zone, mostly set up at religious places, schools and institutes. This year, the centres may be increased to ensure effective distribution and to ensure people plant them at their house. 

BY Md Nizamuddin