Officials told to plant targetted 25 crores saplings in the city

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Secretary Dinesh Kumar has directed the officials to complete the target of planting 25 crore saplings by the end of monsoon under the ‘Vanam Manam’ programme.Stating that only 6 crore saplings were planted so far across the State, the Chief Secretary wanted the officials to take necessary steps for planting the remaining 19 crore saplings at the earliest.

During a review meeting with the officials of the Forest and Environment department at the Interim Government Complex in Velagapudi on Tuesday, the Chief Secretary said that efforts were on increase the forest cover to about 33 per cent of the total area of the State from the existing 23 per cent. He instructed the officials to make arrangements to plant saplings in all vacant places.

While reviewing on ‘Nagara Vanams’ (city forest) aimed at developing lung space in Municipal Corporations, the Chief Secretary said that out of five Nagara Vanams sanctioned at Rajamahendravaram, Kurnool, Tirupati, Nellore and Vijayawada, two of them — Rajamahendravaram and Kurnool — had already been inaugurated and the remaining three are yet to be started. The Chief Secretary instructed the officials to identify the required lands for developing Nagara Vanams in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and West Godavari districts.Meanwhile, Environment and Forest department Principal Secretary Anantha Ramu said that 50 per cent posts were lying vacant in the department. He sought the government to fill up the vacancies. 

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