Barren hill afforestation under the State’s plantation programme, Haritha Haram, turned out to be a practical class on vegetation, soil types and ecology for students here on Tuesday.
Nearly 400 students from the Zilla Parishad High School, Navodaya Vishwavidyalaya and other schools in the Peddavoora mandal trekked the Parvedula village hillock, planting trees. “We have planted about 19,000 saplings on this hill spread over 24.76 hectares. It is a good way to teach children about barren vegetation,” Divisional Forest Officer G. Ravi said.
The 24.76 hectares are part of the total 308.289 extent in the WLM Nagarjunasagar division in Chandampeta and Peddavoora mandals here, identified for diversion under Kaleshwaram Project. Nalgonda division contributes 155 hectares command area to the same.
The afforestation programme will be taken up along canals, river and abandoned lands in the area.
Field classes
Students, who came along with their teachers, planted Marri, Raavi, Juvvi, Naravepi and Neem varieties on the hill. “They were excited about taking part in the activity. It is unusual to climb a hillock to plant trees, and, in the process, learn about stony soils and dry vegetation,” a teacher said.
DFO Ravi said the afforestation programme is being taken up intensively in the division, and with students’ participation, the drive achieves a learning angle.
Marking Independence Day on Wednesday, the programme will see the participation of more students in Devarakonda region, he informed.
