The areas of Paritala, Nandigama, Vissannapet, Avanigadda and Nuzvid in Krishna district may soon be flush with greenery, thanks to the State-sponsored ‘ Karthika Vanamahotsavams’ designed to usher in greenery around. The Krishna district administration is gearing up to host the green drive in these five regions on November 17.
Addressing a meeting held in this connection with officials of the Social Forestry Department on Thursday, Collector M. Raghunandan Rao said in keeping with the decision of the State government to celebrate the occasion as a State event on a grand scale, a posse of officials had been appointed to ensure effective result.
An action plan had been drawn for planting of saplings on a large scale under the drive and free saplings could be acquired from the Social Forestry Department, he said.
Informing that the Municipal Department would be given 500 saplings against 200 to the Panchayat Raj wing, Mr. Rao said the sapling-planting activity could go a long way in paving the way for ecological and social development.
As part of a five-year plan (2015- 2020), a target has been set to plant saplings in 15,752 hectares across Krishna district in 2015-16.
He said the authorities were keen on growing banyan, peepal, neem and other medicinal trees and officials must identify spots such as government offices, panchayats, social welfare hostels, irrigation tanks and canal bunds and inform the respective department heads.
He said the government had decided to take up plantation of 1 crore saplings every year under the drive and every individual must feel responsible towards making this drive a grand success. DFO P. Ashok Kumar said the district had 21 per cent of forest and there was a need to enhance the geographical area to 33 per cent.
