To transform the constituency headquarters town into a complete green belt, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has commenced a massive exercise of planting as many as 1,00,116 saplings at Gajwel Nagara Panchayat limits on Wednesday by planting a Kadamba plant ( Neolamarckia cadamba or burflower) at Indira Park Chowrasta in the town near the Integrated Market.
He was accompanied by Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao, Deputy Speaker M. Padma Devender Reddy and Lok Sabha MP Kotha Prabhakar Reddy among others. This was the beginning of the fourth phase of Telanganaku Haritha Haram programme.
Later, in Gajwel town he planted a sapling at the residence of Kura Nagaraju as a gesture to involve common people in the programme. Earlier in the day at Mulugu he planted a coconut sapling at the residence of Indiramma. Though it was proposed to plant as many as 1,00,116 saplings on a saturation basis, 1,36,588 sapling were planted in the municipal limits. All 12,000 households and 45,000 population was involved in this programme. As many as 1,778 employees and 13,000 workers joined the programme.
Sirens were on after the Chief Minister planted the first sapling at 12.08 p.m. marking the beginning of the programme and everyone took their part by planting the saplings. For better survival, well-grown plants were arranged. They included flower and fruit-bearing plants — coconut, guava, mango, black jamun and pomegranate.
The town was divided into eight clusters and district officials were entrusted with the responsibility of each cluster and about 1.25 lakh pits were dug.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Harish Rao said that by evening as many as 1,25,035 saplings were planted and the programme would continue for two more days.
He said the Chief Minister has visited the Forest Rejuvenation Centre located at Sangaipally in Wargal mandal and was impressed at the development.
The Chief Minister announced a spot reward of ₹five lakh to the staff for protection of the forest.
The Chief Minister directed the officials to make this into a learning spot for officials and public representatives and a model for others. He has also instructed the police to establish Green Brigade to protect the forests.
The Chief Minister has also sanctioned ₹100 crore for development of Gajwel.
