The Minister for IT, Municipal Administration and Industries, K.T. Rama Rao, on Monday participated in 10,000 saplings plantation programme at the Uppal Bhagat layout as part of the ‘Haritha Haram’ programme taken up by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).
About 2500 saplings belonged to the flowering/fragrant/medicinal tree species like Bahunia, Sampenga, Neem, Neredu, Kanuga, Milingtonia, Plumeria etc and around 7,500 medicinal, aromatic and mosquito repellent species like Tulasi, Lemongrass, Lavender, Peppermint, Hibiscus, Henna, Aloevera, etc., were planted.
HMDA Commissioner Chiranjeevulu informed that this year three crore saplings including leftover seedlings of last year were taken up for planting and for distribution to the public and various private and government agencies with a budget provision of Rs.16 crore.
On Monday alone, two lakh saplings are being planted while 13 lakh were distributed to various institutions, departments, voluntary bodies from the nurseries. He also said that HMDA has brought about 19,336 hectares under green cover by planting about 154 lakh saplings.
HMR move
Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited has taken up plantation of 1.22 lakh saplings as part of the ongoing initiative with Mr. K.T. Rama Rao participating in the programme under the metro rail viaduct between Uppal crossroads and Tarnaka along with Transport Minister P. Mahender Reddy.
HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy briefed the ministers about the plan to take up plantation at 36 locations across the city with drip irrigation being provided for the plants under the viaduct thereby ensuring the survival rate is very high at 95 per cent from among the ornamental shrubs planted last year in the Nagole-Uppal stretch, a release said.
