Haritha Haram, which is in its fourth phase, would be a ‘green gift’ for future generations that ensures healthy atmosphere for them, Minister for Energy and SC Development G. Jagadish Reddy said on Wednesday.
After missing his scheduled visit to Mahatma Gandhi University, Mr. Reddy, who was at Milk Chilling Plant here, said Nalgonda, with low forest cover, was close to hitting the panic button, and mass plantation was the need of the hour.
“More than an organised programme, the exercise should be owned up by people as a social responsibility,” he said. In the current phase, Nalgonda district has been given two crore plantation target, he informed. Later interacting with milk producers under Nalgonda-Ranga Reddy Milk Producers’ Mutually Aided Co-op Union Limited, the Minister said the Opposition parties were insulting caste-based vocations. Speaking on the occasion, Nalgonda MP Gutha Sukender Reddy said the government’s commitment to agriculture and allied activities was evident from the soon-to-be launched Buffalo Distribution Scheme. “With an outlay of ₹900 crore, buffalo distribution will take off soon. At 75% subsidy for SC/ST beneficiaries and 50% for others, the scheme will surely revive the occupation,” he said. District Collector Gaurav Uppal also informed that Nalgonda performed well in sheep distribution scheme and Haritha Haram, and the same would be emulated in the dairy initiative.
The Minister with a host of other leaders and staff from the Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, walked around the campus inspecting various indigenous and exotic breeds of cows, buffaloes, sheep and poultry.
3,500 saplings planted
KAMAREDDY Special Correspondent adds: Collector N. Satyanarayana and SP N. Swetha along with villagers planted 3,500 saplings on a four-acre field on the outskirts of Ilsipur village in the mandal on Wednesday.
On the occasion, the Collector said as against the target of 1.32 crore saplings, 60 lakhs were planted so far. About 90 lakh teak plants at the rate of 1,000 to each farmer were being distributed, he said.
For protection of every 1,025 plants, an amount of ₹5,200 would be paid. At nurseries, Vana Sevaks were appointed and Haritha Haram was successfully being implemented with the collective participation of public representatives and people, he said.
