Despite the declaration of drought in rural mandals of the district, the social forestry division is moving ahead to complete the target of planting 1.57 crore saplings by the year end, with about 30 lakh saplings planted so far.
In order to reach the goal, officials have decided to develop a hundred ‘Smrithi vanams’ in the district to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. All the vanams, having 2,000 plants each, would be christened after Gandhiji in order to encourage students to plant saplings and protect them.
Based on feedback, more vanams would be developed in government schools and villages.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) G. Srinivasulu, who inspected forest nurseries in Chittoor and Madanapalle on Sunday, sought field staff to make ready saplings of various species for their distribution among target groups.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Srinivasulu said as part of the 19-week ‘Vanam Manam’ programme (July 14-October 19), the department had undertaken a series of schemes aimed at reaching the goal of planting saplings within the deadline.
Good response
“Despite drought conditions, we have launched the ‘Nakshatra Vanam’ programme in thirty temples in the district. The programme has received good response from devotees, who are showing interest in planting saplings based on zodiac signs. At various temples, particularly in Tirupati, Kanipakam and Srikalahasti, we have distributed thousands of plants with medicinal and spiritual value to devotees,” said Mr. Srinivasulu.
The DFO said that since August, the monsoon forecast was being tracked and officials on the field were getting ready for planting saplings on hill slopes even as pitting was under progress. “Beautification of hills with flower bearing trees is one of the ways to improve the green cover as well as improve the tourism potential of the district,” he said.
Under the Agro-forestry scheme, all the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes farmers and other small farmers were encouraged to raise coconut plantations. “Initially, we have selected a thousand farmers for coconut plantations in the district. Apart from this, farmers are encouraged to raise commercially viable plantations of Alla Nerudu, Usiri, Jama and pomegranate varieties,” said Mr. Srinivasulu.
Major strength
He said the major strength of the Vanam Manam programme was students from various government schools and colleges. “80 % of the saplings that were distributed to students to raise them on school compounds and at their households have survived. We are going to rope in students from Class 1 to the college level and encourage them to raise at least a plant each and protect it,” added Mr. Srinivasulu.
