East Godavari district is going to take 15.5 per cent of share in the State government’s green initiative ‘Vanam Manam’ by planting 15.5 lakh saplings in different parts of the district on July 29, the day on which the State government is planning to plant one crore saplings all over the State. The district with a green cover of 32 per cent, East Godavari has commenced the plantation drive a month ago and a series of programmes by different organisations have been taking place almost every second day. Now, as part of the State government’s Mission Haritandhrapradesh’ initiative, the district officials have geared up to involve various stakeholders – from corporate groups to the employees organisations and journalist associations – in the plantation drive.
“We have made special focus on upland mandals such as Prattipadu, Jaggampeta, Peddapuram and Pithapuram, where the green cover is comparatively low. For this we are encouraging the individuals and groups to plant the saplings and protect them for one year. The saplings of different varieties are being procured from nurseries at Kadiyam and plantation charges are being paid from the MNREGS,” District Collector H. Arun Kumar said here on Wednesday.
‘School Nurseries’ programme
Under the ‘School Nurseries’ programme, 162 nurseries were developed at different educational institutions and plans are afoot to ensure plantation of 1.64 crore saplings in different parts of the district in the next one year. “The data of plant varieties available in these nurseries has been disseminated to different stakeholders. There are varieties of fruit-bearing, shade giving, timber and fencing purpose plants available in these nurseries,” Mr. Arun Kumar said.
Under the aegis of Home Minister N. Chinarajappa, a plantation drive intended to plant 16 lakh saplings in a single day was conducted at Prattipadu during the day. “On July 29, the main programme will be held at Ramavaram of Kathipudi mandal in the morning, in which Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu and Mr. Rajappa are going to be the chief guests. In the afternoon, another programme will be conducted at Peddapuram with Mr. Rajappa as the chief guest,” the Collector said.
“We have issued clear instructions on what type of saplings to be planted during the drive. Basing on the soil quality, availability of water and location, we have short-listed the varieties. For example, we are encouraging plantation of coconut in the Konaseema region and low-height Pongamia on the roadsides. This planning helps survival of the saplings in the long run,” District Forest Officer Srinivasa Rao said.
We have made special focus on upland mandals where the green cover is low
H. Arun Kumar
District Collector
