Religious leaders urged to plant saplings in shrines: Vikarabad Collector

Vikarabad:  District Collector Omar Jaleel called upon leaders of all faiths to plant saplings on the premises of places of worship and vacant places. He also wanted officials to plant saplings in burial grounds. In a meeting with leaders of various faiths held at Collectorate on Wednesday, he said that the saplings planted along the boundaries of the places of worship will grow taller and save the vacant sites from being encroached by vested interests. 

About 1.50 crore saplings, including 90-lakh teak saplings, are ready with various nurseries in the district, he said. The government pays Rs 5 for each sapling planted to nurse it if anyone plants 100 saplings. If the number of saplings plated are 1,000 and above, the government will appoint a caretaker and pay wages to him or her for two years. The wages of the caretaker would be paid if the survival rate is 50 per cent and above. 

If huge quantity of saplings are needed the government will bear the transport charges, he said.  Field officers and field assistants will lend support for planting saplings in rural areas, he said.  Those who need plants free of cost for planting in villages, such persons should consult the Mandal Parishad Development officer, he said. Moreover, the district administration kept ready saplings like curry leaves, guava, mango and basil and so on for planting in homes. The Chief Minister embarked on the plantation drive and paying incentives for nursing them carefully, he said describing it as unprecedented.

He said the saplings planted today would grow tomorrow and provide us with oxygen. He sought support from one and all to the Haritaharam programme to turn Telangana into a green Telangana. Leaders of various faiths have assured the district collector to plant saplings in large numbers in their places of worship. Special officer in central secretariat Mahalingam, minority welfare officer Sabita, RDOs of Vikarabad and Tandur Viswanadham and Venu Madhav and others took part in the programme.