Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has cautioned elected representatives and officials against taking the Haritha Haram plantation drive lightly, as its success will have long-lasting impact on the future generations.
He reiterated that their participation would be taken into consideration while rewarding or providing them more opportunities. He stated that Haritha Mitra awards would be given on Independence Day to those who get involved in the same proactively.
In a review meeting held here on Monday, he said that in addition to good rains this season, a proactive response from people had been pushing the drive in the right direction. Although most of the elected representatives and officials were participating in the programme sincerely, reports from the field suggested that some of them were still lethargic, the Chief Minister said, expressing disappointment on such individuals.
He spoke to some Ministers over the phone and made suggestions, besides telling them about those who were participating sincerely and some for namesake. Mr. Rap wanted all of them to take part in the programme so that the green cover in the State could be improved to 33 per cent of the geographical area for ecological balance, and it should be seen as a measure towards permanent drought-proofing.
Protection of saplings
The Chief Minister said protection of planted saplings should be given the same importance as is being given for plantation. The saplings would survive on their own if care was taken to protect them till the next rainy season in June, he said, asking the officials to make use of fire tenders and water tankers for watering the plants, particularly during the summer months, with the involvement of all government departments.
Mr. Rao wanted the officials to prepare an action plan on plantation and as well as their protection district, division, mandal and village-wise, and supervise the programme by making a senior forest department official in-charge of every division.
