KCR set to turn Telangana green state with 100 crore sapling plantation target

​Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao in a view to continue the efforts to transform Telangana into a Green State, set the target of planting 100 crore saplings under Haritha Haram programme every year from the next year onwards. He instructed the officials to prepare an action plan to meet the demand for saplings on a large scale.

The Chief Minister held a high level meeting on Haritha Haram, which was attended by the Ministers and officials, at Pragati Bhavan here on Saturday. He asserted in addition to rejuvenation of forests and development of social forestry, importance should also be given to fruit bearing trees. In the entire State, the forest lands account for 24 per cent but, the forest cover is just 12 per cent. His government aims to increase forest coverage to at least 33 per cent, he added. 

As the Meteorologists predict better rain fall this year, the Chief Minister said that tree plantation must be taken up on a massive scale. Government is ready to provide required funds for the programme and the funds under NREGA can also be utilised for the purpose.

He instructed the officials to develop nurseries in rural and urban areas also to meet the demand for saplings in the next phase plantation programme. There are 37 varieties of wild fruit bearing trees. To grow them nurseries are to be developed and saplings are to be kept ready. Date palm and toddy trees are to be grown on a large scale, the Chief Minister added.

To increase green cover in the urban areas and cities, the Chief Minister wanted the lay outs to be made for growing green land and green cover by preparing green maps. He asked the officials to take stern action against illegal lay outs and also tough action against the cutting of trees in the cities.