Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

Govt. contemplating launching community lunch scheme

By Our Staff Reporter

MANKHAL (Ranga Reddy dt.) July 24. The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has indicated launching a new Government-sponsored programme of community lunches in groves to revive the culture of respecting trees.

Launching the 54th Vanamahotsav celebrations of the Government here, 20 km. from the State capital, on Thursday, Mr. Naidu said the programme could start during `kartika maasam' this year. Even Ministers and officials will have to participate in lunches near trees on one of the days during the month.

Mr. Naidu appealed to the people not to bother about their work on that day, worship trees and also have lunch at the spot with their dear ones.

The Chief Minister promised that the Hyderabad International Airport, which is proposed at Shamshabad near here, will be modelled on the lines of airports in Malaysia which are acclaimed as the best in the world. Hyderabad will become one of the major metropolises of the world after the airport comes up.

"This area too will become the centre of economic activity,'' he added.

He also promised the setting up of a satellite township and apparel and hardware parks here. Expressing a desire to put an end to the chronic drought in the State by promoting the planting of trees, Mr. Naidu called for a mass movement of tree plantation. He urged the Forest Department to change its practices to meet the objective. The officials should stop supplying saplings to the public in polythene bags. Instead, containers, which can protect the roots of the saplings in the soil should be used.

The Home Minister, T. Devender Goud, who hails from the nearby Tukkuguda village, appealed to set apart this area for tree plantation. The Forest Minister, Ayyanna Patrudu, local MLA, K. Pushpaleela, and the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, S.K. Das, also spoke.

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