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No efforts to spread greenery in Nellore
The city gradually turning into a concrete jungle with less green cover owing to urbanisation and there is no space for trees even on streets. Even though temperatures have been increasing abnormally year on year there has been no concrete efforts from the state government to take up massive vegetation in and around the city.
Nellore: The city gradually turning into a concrete jungle with less green cover owing to urbanisation and there is no space for trees even on streets. Even though temperatures have been increasing abnormally year on year there has been no concrete efforts from the state government to take up massive vegetation in and around the city.
Highlights:
- Vanam Manam failed due to lack of interest from the civic body
- It was aimed to plant around one crore saplings in the district for improving green cover
- District occupies seventh position in the state with 16.5% forest cover
The temperatures are hovering around 45 to 46 degree Celsius in peak summer compared to 40 to 42 degree Celsius in previous years. The district administration had taken up ‘Vanam Manam’ programme last year for planting one crore saplings and there has been no use with the activity since no sincere efforts were taken to improve green cover. The officials also announced that the planted saplings would be geo-tagged for understanding the status of their growth.
Nellore is a two-tier city with 4 lakh population as per census data in 2015. It has forest cover of 2,790 square km with 16.5 per cent greenery. The civic body is not making plantation mandatory despite city is witnessing increase in new apartments, real estate ventures and other residential complexes.
Consequently, no relief to residents from severe heat conditions during summer with less number of trees in the city. Even though, an urban forest was proposed in city limits and it is under progress where 400 hectares of reserve forest has been allocated for the project. In Nellore city, parks and leisure places have gradually vanished due to negligence the civic bodies and now very few are existing name sake with no green cover and entertainment facilities for visitors. Swatantra Park, AC Nagar Municipal Park and others used to be feast to the eyes of the city population 30 years ago.
Residents used to spend in the parks during leisure time and evenings especially during summer. Now, there is no lung space for denizens. “We don’t find place for plantations in city due to open encroachments and disinterest on improving green cover whereas other parts of the country are planning for reducing pollution by way of vegetation and low-carbon transport systems.
But, here in Nellore, political will has been lacking to improve the conditions,” lamented retired teacher S Sriramulu. Mushrooming programmes of the state government have been witnessing no focus on the previous activities taken up and Vanam Manam which was started last year remained namesake activity which practically achieved less, he added. Interestingly, an official from the Forest department said they are not having concrete data on the status of saplings being taken care of.
By P Vara Prasad
