Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao kicked off the massive saplings plantation programme of 25 lakh in a single day on Monday within the capital region by watering a sapling inside the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) new block of trauma and speciality block.
This is part of the ‘Haritha Haram’ programme being taken up throughout the State for the next two weeks where scores of saplings are to be planted by Government departments, private firms, voluntary bodies, colony welfare associations and also individuals.
Later at the camp office, Mr. Rao issued a series of instructions to the Chief Secretary, Rajiv Sharma, for the officials to follow for the next fortnight. Directing that each and every village in Telangana should be covered under the programme, he wanted district Collectors and Superintendents of Police to personally supervise and ensure saplings are planted everywhere.
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“This is a test case for all the officials from the district, mandal levels to the sarpanches and the elected representatives whether they are MPs, MLAs or MLCs. Every department should owe it up. Every evening officials of various departments should send detailed progress reports of the action taken to the top officials and from there it will reach the Chief Minister’s office through the CS,” he said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that with widespread rainfall throughout, this is the right moment for the massive plantation programme.
Information about the programme efficacy is being sourced through various sources and those found wanting will be unearthed soon, he warned while calling for requisite plans to ensure the saplings are nurtured properly.
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The Government is also pretty serious about illegal tree felling and has also initiated several steps to arrest smugglers activity. Alternative occupations are being shown to them and such a programme has been taken up in the districts of Adilabad and Karimnagar, an official communiqué from the CM’s office said.
Expressing his concern over the depleting forest cover, he said social forestry programmes should be taken intensively.
He also blasted the critics of the programme and accused the Opposition of resorting to falsehood about the programmes with regard to funds allocation.
Governor E.S. L Narasimhan participated in the Haritha Haram programme at BHEL in Medak
At guest houses
Adhar Sinha, principal secretary, general administration department, participated in a plantation drive at the Greenlands guest house and the Dilkusha guest house. Close to 500 saplings supplied by the GHMC were planted inside these buildings as also the Manjeera guest house.