Extend Haritha Haram tenure, conservationists tell govt

​Hyderabad: Conservationists on Wednesday urged the State government to extend the tenure of ‘Telangana ku Haritha Haram’ programme and make it a permanent and continuous process for increasing green cover across Telangana.

Participating in a seminar on ‘Importance of Telangana Flora & Fauna and Wildlife’ here, Forum for Better Hyderabad President M Veda Kumar said, “Three years is not at all sufficient to achieve the required forest area in the State. Currently it is 25 per cent and it will take more time to achieve the goal.

Haritha Haram is doing well, but should be made a permanent and continuous process to develop forests in the State.”

‘Telangana ku Haritha Haram’ mission was launched in July 2015 by the Telangana government for three years with a view to increase green cover from the existing 25 per cent to 33 per cent.

Talking about deforestation in Telangana, chief guest Qamar Mohammad Khan explained reasons for the radical deforestation. He said, “The main cause of deforestation in Telangana is rapid increase of population and urbanisation in recent years.

The government is under strain to meet the needs of urbanisation. Instead, it must encourage agro forestry to overcome the issue.”