Minister for Irrigation & Marketing Harish Rao today said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will launch the third phase of the flagship program Harithaharam at Karimanagar on July 12 on a massive scale.
Harish Rao held a review meeting on the Harithaharam program at Secretariat today along with BC Welfare & Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna, Forest Department Secretary Rajath Kumar and others were present.
Harish Rao exhorted officials to make elaborate arrangements for the program as the Chief Minister was very keen on the massive afforestation program to expand green cover in the State. Enquiring about the preparations being made for the green drive at Karimnagar and that of other districts, Harish Rao said Harithaharam aims to increase green cover and attract more rains besides checking the pollution. He asked the officials to shift the saplings from nurseries to the venue points in every district.
Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna has stressed the need for planting the saplings on a massive scale and special measures should be taken to protect them by setting up tree guards and regular watering. He also asked the officials to strive to make the program a big success. “Besides plantation, we need to take up steps to involve people in the green drive. The program so far taken up in the last two phases yielded positive results and there was a need for steps to protect the saplings after plantation was over. He asked the officials to ensure that the saplings be shifted to all districts. He said involvement of people is indispensable for the program. He also directed the officials distribute saplings to the people as part of the program. (NSS)