Ensure public support to Haritha Haram III phase: Tummala

Kothagudem: Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswara Rao called upon the district officials to involve the people in the afforestation programme ‘Haritha Haram’, which has a target of planting 1.6 crore saplings in the third phase, to make the plantation drive successful.

The people will extend support to the programmes if their implementation is credible, he said adding that the programme would be a futile exercise without their help.

Addressing the district officials at a review meeting on Haritha Haram project here on Saturday, the Minister sought information on how many saplings were planted during the earlier two phases, how many survived of them and what were the plans for the third phase.

The officials should ensure that each sapling that was planted will survive. Objective of the drive is to replenish the depleted forest cover during the past 15 years as it affected the rainfall. Hence, the Haritha Haram is being implemented with a missionary zeal, he said.

Nageswara Rao asked the officials not to harass the tribals practicing the Podu cultivation prior to 2005. Invoke the provisions of the Preventive Detention Act in case of non-tribals were found snatching the Podu lands, he said.

To nurse the plants, one vana sevak should be appointed for every 400 saplings, he said adding that the district will turn green in 10 years if the plans for plantation drive are implemented. He sought information on the extent of land available in each industrial area.

Tractors with iron wheels meant for wet fields should not be allowed to run on roads as the wheels would damage the roads, he said asking the officials to register cases against owners of such tractors.

Revenue, transport, police and agriculture officials should sensitise tractor owners on the ill-effects of operating tractors with iron wheels on roads, he said. Khammam legislator Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy has asked the officials to ensure hassle-free selection of the plants. Without the supervision of the officials the survival of plants would be at peril, he said asking them to nurse the plants fixing specific targets.

MP of Mahabubabad advocated geo tagging of the saplings. Pinapaka legislator Payam Venkateswarlu asked the officials to plant saplings at such places where they will have protection.

Illendu legislator Koram Kanakayya, Vyra legislator Dr Madanlal, TRICORR chairman Tati Venkateswarlu, ZP Chairperson Gadipalli Kavita, District Collector Rajiv Ggandhi Hanumanthu, Joint Collector Ramkishan, Cconservator of Forests Dr Raja Rao, District Forest Officer Rambabu, Municipal Chairperson Puli Geeta and others participated.

By PV Satyanarayana