The Haritha Haram programme got off to a colourful start on the 600-acre sprawling Telangana University campus at Dichpally in the district on Wednesday.
Vice-Chancellor C. Parthasarathi, Collector Yogitha Rana, Joint Collector A. Ravinder Reddy, Superintendent of Police P. Vishwaprasad, Registrar (in-charge) Prof. Y. Jayaprakash Rao, principals, deans, head of departments, students, and teaching and non-teaching staff participated in the rally organised in connection to Haritha Haram.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Parthasarathi expressed serious concern over the fast depletion of forests which result in ecological imbalance. Being alert on the impending danger, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao launched the tree plantation drive to promote afforestation, he said.
He said that places which have abundant greenery get plenty of rain. Tree plantation was a very good idea which would be useful for the future generations. Deforestation, global warming, droughts, imbalances in ecology and afforestation, water conservation, and protection of environment have become topics of debate all over the world. Ms. Rana said that a day might come when water would have to be bought for taking a bath. If plants were raised all around, they would give fresh air and make the surroundings healthy. If trees were felled, mankind would not have a future, she added.
SP Vishwa Prasad said that excessive felling of trees has made the situation deteriorate. The Joint Collector emphasised the need of tree plantation and its protection. Later, along with students, they planted saplings on the campus.
Earlier in the morning, Mr. Parthasarathi, taking part in Haritha Haram at the South Campus at Biknoor, said that efforts were on to turn a 15-acre land taken over from the Horticulture Department into a special thematic park. Compound wall would be built around the land and South Campus would be developed into a model institute, he said.
