The district administration, which had shown keen interest during the third phase of Haritha Haram programme when Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had launched the programmeon July 12 last year, is now lagging behind in the plantation of saplings.
During the fourth phase of Haritha Haram, the district administration had planned to take up plantation of two lakh saplings on a single day on July 21 and have the programme launched by Governor ESL Narasimhan. The authorities initially identified Satavahana University premises for the plantation and later shifted to the Markfed grounds.
Due to delay in the official launching of the Haritha Haram programme in the district, the plantation of saplings was slow
Even though the district has been receiving bountiful rainfall since July, the authorities have failed to reach the targets for the fourth phase.
The Karimnagar district was allocated 1.37 crore saplings during this year. But, so far the authorities could take up plantation of only 34.46 lakh. Though the authorities have chalked out strategies for plantation of saplings by involving 28 departments on a massive scale, only the DRDA has taken it up sincerely and was ahead with plantation of 23 lakh saplings against the target of 39.50 lakh. The other departments failed to reach at least 50 % of their target.
The R&B and Panchayat Raj departments were yet to take up plantations all along the road sides. The municipalities such as Karimnagar, Huzurabad and Jammikunta were also lagging behind. The Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK), which had won accolades for plantation of 1 lakh saplings last year, is progressing at a snail’s pace.
The MCK authorities have dug pits in various colonies, but failed to take up plantation of saplings and their protection. The pits have been covered with the overgrowth following the recent rains.
Even the distribution of fruit-bearing and flowering plants to the residents remained a non-starter.
