Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will formally launch the Harithaharam program at Pedda Kaparti village near Chowtuppal in Chityal mandal of Nalgonda district on July 8 and simultaneously the massive plantation drive will be taken up to embellish the highways with 85,000 saplings that will give flowers and shadow on the stretch of 165 km en route Vijayawada highway.
Ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs and officials will participate in the plantation drive at their home districts on the same day. The government has decided to plant 46 cr saplings across the state to expand greenery to 33 per cent from 26 per cent of forest cover. The Green drive of two weeks beginning July 8 is to ensure that the people leaving Hyderabad to their destinations will find the glimpse of flowery plants on both sides of the national highways to enjoy the bliss of cool breeze coupled with conducive atmosphere on up to 165 km stretch where the Telangana State frontiers end though connecting Vijayawada of Andhra Pradesh. As part of the drive the saplings of flower and shadow will be planted from Abdullahpurmet near Ramoji Film City till Nallabandagudem in Kodada mandal of Nalgonda district. Priyanka Varghese Officer on Special Duty of Harithaharam will monitor the green drive on the entire stretch that was divided into14 segments to be inspected by 14 officials appointed in charges. Arrangements are being made to distribute the plants through 14 counters in the 14 segments and others in all districts. It was planned to protect and maintain the saplings by involving local people, self help groups, students, officials and peoples representatives in the green drive. It is all planned to ensure plantation of a particular colour saplings of flowers for 10 km stretch and other colour saplings of shadow type will be planted for another 10 km and the model will be continued for the rest of the stretch connecting six Assembly segments, 10 mandals and 50 villages to reach the state frontiers.
Medicinal plants on July 11.
As per the directive of the chief minister the forest officials made arrangements to distribute medicinal plants and other plants of fruit, flower and shadow varieties at various places in the city on July 11. These saplings will be planted at KBR Park, Shamshabad Airport, Necklace Road Peoples Plaza, Hitec City, Charminar and Uppal areas. (NSS)