Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu launched the ambitious tree plantation drive today in Sunkollu village of the Nuzvid mandal in the Krishna district.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu today launched Mission Haritha Andhra Pradesh by planting saplings at Sunkollu village of the Nuzvid mandal in the Krishna district.
Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the CM emphasized the need to protect the environment by planting trees, and asked every citizen of the State to take part in the massive plantation program to transform the State into Haritha Andhra Pradesh. He asseverated the need for all sections of the society to come forward to increase the green cover in the State from the 26% to 50% by 2029, and exhorted everyone to observe 'Vana Deeksha' to increase the green cover in the State.
The CM also offered incentives to encourage people to pitch in. "In order to encourage the drive, 'Vruksha Mitra' awards will be presented to participants. Promotions are in place for those officials who contribute the most to saving our environment. Additional grades will be awarded to students in their academics for participating in the plantation program," he said.
Naidu said that all plants would be geo-tagged and linked with the Aadhaar numbers of those who planted them, to monitor their growth.
He also asked for volunteers to come forward to distribute tree guards to save the plants.
Naidu announced said that the fourth Saturday of every month would henceforth be allocated for the Vanam-Manam program. On these days, debates would be organised in colleges, universities and offices across the State in the afternoon on the program and on environmental issues in general.
Elaborating on the specifics of his plan for increasing the green cover, Naidu said that around 1,500 metric tons of seeds would be planted in the forest regions with the help of DWCRA groups. In order to increase the ground water levels, 6 lakh farm ponds would be dug in the near future under special projects. 60,000 farm ponds had already been dug in Andhra Pradesh in the past, the CM said, which had raised the ground water levels to an extent already.
The CM said that fruit-bearing and medicinal plants would be given the utmost priority to make Andhra Pradesh a horticultural and ayurvedic hub. He also said that efforts would be made to increase the green cover in the barren regions of Andhra.
Naidu unveiled a logo for Vanam-Manam, a book on the bio-diversity of the Seshachalam forest, and a special postal cover for the Haritha Andhra Pradesh mission, on the occasion.
Andhra Pradesh Minister for Agriculture Prathipati Pulla Rao presided over the program. Eluru MP Maganti Venkateswara Rao, Special Chief Secretary P V Ramesh, Principal Chief Conservator Of Forests S B L Misra, Collector A Babu and others participated.