‘Telanganaku Haritha Haram’, a giant leap by the newly formed Telangana State towards improving its green cover, proved to be just a baby step vis-à-vis the ambitious target set by the government for the closure of the year, yet inviting severe criticism from certain quarters.
Nonetheless, close to 10 crore saplings were planted just in three to four months of scanty rainfall, laying a strong foundation for the afforestation drive monitored personally by the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
Launched by Mr. Rao on July 3 this year, the programme envisaged state-wide plantation of 40 crore seedlings by the year-end, and 230 crore at the end of four years, towards the target of increasing the State’s forest cover to 33 per cent from the earlier 24 per cent.
Multi-pronged approach
The objective was sought to be achieved through a multi-pronged approach of rejuvenating degraded forests, ensuring effective protection against smuggling, encroachment, fire, grazing and intensive soil and moisture conservation measures.
Massive plantation was aimed at as part of social forestry, in the form of avenue, river side and canal bank plantation, tank bunds and foreshore areas, institutional premises, religious places, housing colonies, and community abandoned lands.
A total of 4,213 nurseries were identified, and more than 39 crore saplings were raised in them for planting in 8,644 villages.
Despite the enthusiasm, the programme was only partially successful largely owing to truant monsoon.
Plantation could be taken up only on avenues and institutional premises where regular watering was ensured.
“The saplings raised by us can survive to next year with a little care.
Through water and nutrient control, and shifting and grading, we will ensure that they do not grow fast,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forests P.K.Sharma.
The project attracted trenchant criticism from social and tribal activists who alleged that it aimed at displacing tribals in the name of afforestation. “They are planting on plots left fallow by the tribals for lack of rains, thereby depriving them of forest rights. Foresters do not even know that forest fires are desirable for germination of certain varieties of plants.
They ought to have taken us into confidence for effective implementation,” says Hussain Swamy, a tribal activist from Mahabubnagar.
