Forest cover in Andhra Pradesh is below 30 per cent and there is a need to increase it 33 per cent, Minister for Information, Public Relations, Minority Welfare and Information Technology Palle Raghunatha Reddy, has said.
The Minister participated in Swacch Bharat programme held in Bharati Nagar here on Thursday.
Addressing residents of the colony and others, the Minister said there was a need to increase the green cover. Cleanliness was equally important, he said.
He said that the State Government was giving top priority to “Neeru-Chettu” programme. Tree plantation should be taken up in all government offices and institutions as part of the programme which was designed for conservation of water and protection of trees. The ultimate goal of the Neeru-Chettu Programme was reduction of pollution and protection of environment.
Everyone should make it a habit to keep their homes clean. Cleanliness should not be limited to homes it should be extended to the surrounds too, he said.
There would be no mosquitoes in a clean environment. The absences of mosquitoes would check the spread of several diseases and the health of the people would also improve, the Minister said. With regard to mosquitoes, the public bear the responsibility of being alert so that vector borne diseases do not spread to the community.
He said everyone should construct separate latrines and the Government was giving up to Rs. 15,000 financial aid for construction. Kalyadurgam MLA Anantharam Chowdary, Clean and Green Environment president Kodali Subhas Chandra Bose and corporator Devineni Aparna and others participated.