The Karimnagar town wears a green look as 80% of the saplings planted during the third phase of Harith Haram have survived, thanks to the measures taken by Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK).
The third phase of plantation drive was launched by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on July 12 last year. One lakh saplings were planted on a single day then. The municipal authorities had taken up 40,000 block plantations, 60,000 avenue plantations and 10,000 scattered plantations, while 70,000 homestead plants were distributed to households in the district. The block plantations were taken up along the shores of LMD reservoir, at Satavahana University, Markfed grounds, police training college and other government institutions. The survival rate of these plants is 80% owing to constant monitoring by the officials concerned. The avenue plantations were taken up along Rajiv Rahadhari, R&B road medians, internal roads etc. But here, the survival rate is 60% owing to development work.
Talking to The Hindu on Friday, Municipal Commissioner K. Shashanka said most of the saplings survived because of the scientific way in which they were planted. Pits of 2X2 feet were dug and vermicompost was added before planting the saplings, while tree guards were erected for their protection. Besides, a special team was constituted to constantly water the plants, he said.
Mr. Shashanka said over 473 Green Brigade volunteers in different wards played a crucial role in keeping the saplings alive. He added that they were planning to plant an additional one lakh saplings during this year’s Haritha Haram programme.
The damaged plants would be replaced by the new ones, green cover around the LMD reservoir would be increased and plantation of flowering plants to beautify the reservoir would be taken up, he said.
The municipal corporation was also planning to provide drip irrigation system for saplings planted in the medians on all the R&B roads in the town.
