Launching the much-hyped two-week Harithaharam campaign to plant saplings at Gundrampally in Nalgonda district here on Friday, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao exhorted the people to plant saplings and protect themselves to get rains to banish drought from the State. To mark the green revolution, KCR planted Neem and Kadambam saplings at the village and at Choutuppal market yard where he also inaugurated a godown facility and announced Rs 350 crore for the local Pillaipally- Dharma Reddy canal.
The Chief Minister criticized previous governments for indiscriminate felling of trees that resulted in perennial drought situation in the State and it is the duty of everyone to make the State a Green Telangana through planting 230 crore saplings over the next four years. As per the plan, plantation will continue on the entire stretch of 163km on national highway from Nalgonda district ending at State borders towards Vijayawada. He lauded Telangana people as a great race as they offered seamless spirit for the statehood movement and will also show needed support for the green revolution to attract rains and send monkeys back to forests.
Addressing a public meeting later, the Chief Minister asked the people to show same spirit of statehood movement to transform the State into “Green Telangana” which is possible through voluntary participation and help improve our lives. Though last year witnessed a shortage in rainfall this year we expect better rains and the green drive will be a grand success with active participation of the people”, the Chief Minister averred.
Stating that he took up the green drive in Nalgonda which lacks forest area as well as greenery, KCR said monkeys were invading the villages and towns as the forest cover diminished to a great extent and hoped that the district will become green soon. He also asked the students, teachers, people, leaders and officials to take utmost care to protect saplings by planting them at all the places to protect environment from pollution and ensure ecological balance to attract rains. The entire nation was suffering from the drought problem and Telangana State should achieve the target of spreading green cover to 33 per cent from 24 per cent, he remarked.
Energy Minister G Jagadish Reddy, MPs Boora Narsaiah Goud, Gutha Sukhender Reddy, party leaders and officials attended the meeting. (NSS)