With large tracts of open land under its control, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has grand plans to boost the State government’s green initiative – Haritha Haram. In the third phase of the project which was kicked off on Wednesday, the HDMA would endeavour to plant 1.1 crore saplings. On the Outer Ring Road (ORR) alone, medians would be refurbished with around 20 lakh shrubs and bushes over 100 km length. Around 37 lakh saplings and plants would be distributed to the residential colonies, villages and temple areas within the HMDA limits. In the layouts being developed by the HMDA, 10 lakh plants would find a place.
Attending the mega plantation drive organised by the HMDA on ORR at Shamirpet, Telangana Chief Secretary S.P. Singh stressed on the need to protect the plants. He said the State government was not just interested in planting, but nurturing the plants and for this purpose, ₹15 crore has been allocated in this financial year. Mr. Singh said the government was sincere in its effort to increase the green cover of the State to 33%. If the plantations go up, pollution could be controlled and health would improve, he said. The IAS officer also said individuals, institutions and even leaders right from village to the State level would be awarded and felicitated for their active participation in the programme. He appealed to youngsters to join the movement and make it a success. Scores of engineering students participated in the event. They were asked to take a pledge to encourage and inspire their friends, families and neighbours to plant and protect trees. In the first phase of Haritha Haram, the HMDA claims to have facilitated plantation of 35 lakh saplings and 1.01 crore in the second phase. HMDA Commissioner T. Chiranjeevulu said 90% of these plants survived. He said students would be made ‘Green Brigadiers’ to protect the plants. Mr. Chiranjeevulu said the plantation drives would be taken up near 12 lakes within the HMDA limits and the responsibility of protecting and nurturing these plants would be handed over to NGOs.
