Vanam-Manam Plantation drive from July 1

​Amaravati: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to take up Vanam-Manam programme on a large scale by planting one crore saplings across the state.

Stating that he would launch the programme by planting sapling at Kondaveedu in Guntur district on July 1, the Chief Minister asked the forest department officials to ensure for people’s participation in a big way and termed the programme as ‘Maha Yagna’.

He held a review meeting with forest department officials along with minister Sidda Raghava Rao at his Undavalli residence on Thursday. Emphasising the need for extending the extent of forest area from 23 per cent to 50 per cent by 2029, Naidu asked the officials to concentrate on mobilising funds for successful implementation of Harithandhra Pradesh programme.

Calling for maximum utilisation of NREGS funds, he asked them to take up plantation on flanks of railway lines and roads. “Not even a single of drop of water should go waste in the forest areas. Trenches should be dug around the forest area. Construct check dams, rockfill dams in a big way. The ground water level will increase and the animals, trees will survive if the water is harvested in the forest area,” Naidu opined.

Asking to geo tagging the plants, through which extent of greenery can be measured, the Chief Minister directed the officials to give incentives to the people, who take up plantation drive in a big way. He also suggested to make out a unique plan of establishing a ‘Tree Bank’ and take up door delivery of saplings. He asked the officials to take up plantation and seed collection throughout the year.

Directing the horticulture and forest departments to conduct joint studies on selecting the plants, which would withstand all climatic conditions, Naidu suggested to take up cloning of trees like in the US.

He instructed the officials to handover the responsibility of plants to DWACRA groups. “The plantation programme should be taken up in all the schools, colleges, universities, industrial premises and other areas where there is scope of conservation,” he said.

While asking the officials to prepare an action plan for protecting Kolleru lake, he wanted them to develop the five bird sanctuaries. “Protect Mada forests and develop Tiger forest as tourist centre.

Tirupati and Visakhapatnam Zoo parks should also be developed. Develop urban forestry and give priority to grow medicinal plants,” he added.