Hyderabad:Haritha Haram program for expansion of green cover in Telangana is third biggest in the world and fourth phase will be taken up soon, Panchayat Raj Minister Jupally Krishna Rao claimed today.
He exhorted the people voluntarily participate in the green drive to increase forest cover to ensure more rains and to curb drought situation in the state. Along with Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna, Rao was addressing a two-day training camp for growing nurseries in every villages for officials came from 15 districts at Dulapally forest academy near city on Monday.
He asked the officials to prepare plan of action in that direction to involve people, leaders and departments. Rao said that the government will become ideal in the country by expanding green cover. He further said that as per new panchayat raj act every village has to grow nurseries and distribute plants to people of their choice.
It is possible to achieve expansion of greenery only with active coordination by people, people representatives and officials. Make wide publicity, involve people and youth to expand greenery to give non polluted environment to posterity he said. Forest department is giving cooperation and village panchayats should take responsibility to protect at least 85 per cent of saplings planted besides keeping adequate stocks of assorted plants like fruits, flowers and shade and give them to people.
Jogu Ramanna said that Green drive is the brainchild of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. The past three phases of Haritha Haram were successful and it is time for fourth phase which requires people support and cooperation Ramanna said.
The officials trained in the green expansion will impart training to staff in mandals and villages to reach the targets he said. The minister appealed to people to grow at least six saplings in their houses. (NSS)