Prohibition & Excise Minister T Padmarao has stated the TRS government planted 1.69 crore date palm trees across the State from the year 2014 till now.
Giving a reply to the question raised by TRS member V Srinivas Goud in the Assembly during Question Hour on Thursday, Padmarao said adequate measures have been taken for protection of saplings include involvement of society members and provision for Watch and Ward charges through NREGS. He said the proposal of measures being taken for marketing Neera, which was extracted naturally from date palm and Palmyra trees, was under consideration. He also reminded that the government was giving Rs 6 lakh ex-gratia for toddy tappers. (NSS)