With the prestigious Haritha Haram programme launched by chief minister Mr KCR, forest cover in 9.65 lakh hectares was restored.
A total of 243 crore saplings were planted and as many as 12,769 nurseries were set up across the state. The green cover to an extent of 7.7 percent was increased in the state in the last four years.
The Telangana state earned fame as the only state to plant more saplings and its effort to improve green cover was the third great attempt in the world.
The Telangana government spent a total of Rs 8,511 crore on the programme and created 109 urban forests. The local bodies were instructed to set aside 10 percent of the budget exclusively for the `Green Budget’.
The state government has sanctioned tractors, trolleys, and water tankers among others to every Gram Panchayat to ensure the survival of trees and also increase green cover in their respective villages.
The government involved people in a big way that helped the success of the programmes. It also roped in celebrities to motivate people to participate in Haritha Haram.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao