Haritha Haram to augment forest cover in rural areas

​Tandur:  The mass plantation drive ‘Haritha Haram’ taken by the state government as a matter of prestige did not produce expected results for the past three years for want of timely rains and effective supervision. As monsoons are on time this year, officials of all government departments are gearing up themselves to implement the programme on full-scale. 

Villages have paid the price in the form of losing green cover on account of the modernisation. In fact, forests should constitute 33.3 per cent of the landed area, but it is not the case to be.  The government launched the Haritha Haram as a remedial measure. 

In Tandur Assembly constituency, Tandur, Peddemul, Yalal, Basheerabad mandals, it is targeted to plant at least 36 lakh saplings in 90 villages. In tune with the target, the officials have stepped up efforts, including setting up of nurseries in villages, to reach the target. 

The revised Panchayat Raj Act stipulates action against elected people’s representatives, officials and house owners if they fail to protect the saplings planted. Each house will be given six saplings. If they wither away for any reasons, the house owner will be levied a fine equal to the house tax. 

If the sarpanch and panchayat secretary were found to be negligent in nursing the plants, they will be divested of their offices. Environmental lovers appreciate the new legislation as a breather to the saplings.  The tree plantation programme is being implemented under the joint aegis of the NREGS, forest, panchayatraj and horticulture departments.

Saplings will be given free of cost to farmers to plant them on farm bunds, in front of their homes and in the backyard, schools, government office complexes, places of worship, government sites and parking places. The farmers will  be given the plants free of cost to augment their revenue. The saplings being distributed include neem, drum stick, guava, lemon curry, leaves, papaya, basil and so on. The saplings will be distributed among various groups as rains are on time.