‘Plan to achieve 50% green cover by 2029’

The State government is working to achieve 50% tree cover of the total geographical area in the State under Vanam-Manam programme by 2029, Deputy Chief Minister Nimmakayala Chinarajappa said.

While participating in Vanamahostavam programme organised in Nagaravanam of the Forest Department at Lalacheruvu, near Rajamahnedravaram, on Saturday, he said that this could be achieved through the Mission Harithandra Pradesh (MHAP) launched in the State during the year 2016. Mr. Chinarajappa said that as per the National Forestry Policy objective 33% of the total geographical area should be under greenery for maintaining the ecological balance and sustainable development.

In our State, 27% of geographical area is under forest cover and efforts have been made to take up large-scale plantation through the social forestry programme, covering vacant lands on the side of the roads, schools, colleges, panchayats and barren hills, he added.

With regard to East Godavari district, he said that 35% area was covered with greenery and requested all to actively participate in plantation. He said that Vanamahostav programme is being organised in the State to promote plantation, maintain ecological balance and to protect from pollution.

Kadiyam nurseries

Rajamahendravaram MP M. Murali Mohan said that the Kadiyam nurseries in the district were the main suppliers of plants to many places in the nation and requested the government to provide power to these nurseries at nominal cost. Chief Conservator of Forests J.S.N. Murthy said that 3.30 crore saplings have been planted in the district in the past 127 days. MLCs Adireddy Apparao and Chikkala Ramachandra Rao, MLA Gornatla Butchiah Chowdary, District Collector Kartikeya Misra, Municipal Commissioner V. Vijayarama Raju, Sub-Collector Saikanth Varma, territorial DFO Nandini Salaria and others were present.

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