If everything goes according to the plans of the State Government, Telangana will be the greenest State in India by 2018. State Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday launched an ambitious tree plantation programme “Haritha Haaram” (Green garland) at Chilkur, famous for Balaji temple on the outskirts of Hyderabad by participating in sapling plantation ceremony.
The programme envisage planting of 2.3 billion trees over a period of next three years to increase the green cover in the State from present 24% to 33% of the total area.
“This is not a Government programme or function of Ministers and MlAs. This is a people’s programme”, said KCR speaking after performing pooja at the Chilkur temple.
He set a target of planting 40,000 trees in every village of the State. He urged the people to plant whatever trees were available now. “Next year you will get the plants of your choice,” he promised referring to the demand from the people for the fruit and wood bearing trees.
Of the total 230 crore saplings, 130 crore will be planted outside the notified forest areas and 100 crore inside the forest areas. As part of the programme forest department will develop green avenues along 1743 kms long roads and 955 acres of barren hills, the Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna said.