Lockdown impacts tending nurseries in the city

Hyderabad: The lockdown has led to a slight trouble for the maintenance of the nurseries in the city. Staff crunch has been an issue to maintain these nurseries due to the lockdown.

While many of the workers working in these nurseries have left to their natives, only around 20 percent of them are still staying in the nurseries to take care of the maintenance.

Speaking to The Hans India, V Krishna, Additional Commissioner of Urban biodiversity wing, GHMC said, "Each zone has one nursery. The workers who are appointed and are staying in these nurseries are provided with the ration. The concerned Deputy Commissioners have taken the responsibility of providing the workers ration at their concerned areas. This year, there is going to be a minimum of around 3 lakh seedlings to be raised which would get increased to around 5 lakh seedlings this year.

He adds further, " This year there is no target for Haritha Haram as the concerned officials have fulfilled their targets in 2019. The staff crunch will lead to a slight difference which can be managed."

In 2020, the officials are asked to focus and take up the plantation in the nurseries of all the six zones which will include nurseries like Indira park in Domalguda, Vijaya Nursery in Kukatpally, Nallagandla Nursery and Mullakatwa Cheruvu.

"Since the target is less, we will not require many workers. The workers who stay in these nurseries will be taking care of them as usual. Around 50,000 seedlings will planted in each zone," said Krishna.

Sridevi Saraswati, Forest Range Officer, Dulapally said, " After the lockdown, not all the workers are able to come as many of them have left to their natives. However, since there is a minimum target this year, the workers who stay here are trying to manage the maintenance of these nurseries. The concerned Sarpanch are also asked to take care of the nurseries in their respective panchayats."

Sujata Naik, Nursery Incharge, Vanasthalipuram Nursery said, "It is the responsibility of the concerned contractor to take care of the maintenance. These workers are also allotted by them. However after the lockdown it is very difficult for even around 60 percent of them to come for the maintenance of these Nursery. The workers who could not go to their natives or stay in the nursery are only taking care of it. There are around 3 of the workers who come to the Nursery."