Thousands take part in Vanam-Manam

Anantapur: A massive afforestation drive dubbed as ‘Konda Panduga’ launched by the administration throughout the district on Friday to increase green cover to the minimum level of 30 per cent.

Thousands of students, political party activists and the common people have enthusiastically taken part in the plantation programme coinciding with the state-level programme of ‘Vanam Manam’ launched by the Chief Minister. By and large, planting of 20 lakh saplings have been targeted for the day throughout the district.

District Collector Kona Sasidhar and Joint Collector B Lakshmikantham have motivated both government and private players to undertake afforestation on a campaign mode for planting saplings in a phased manner.

Speaking at a meeting at Rayadurgam on the occasion of Vanam-Manam, Lakshmikantham stated that the district would face Oxygen crisis if tree plantation is not taken up on a large scale.

Unless, all those living in the district become stakeholders in the green mission, it cannot be accomplished, he added. The ‘Konda Panduga’ has ignited passion for green movement and created a festive atmosphere and enthusiasm for tree plantation among the school children and common people.

At Anantapur municipal limits, local MLA Prabhakar Chowdary organised plantation of 6,000 trees. Tree plantation was taken up by all municipal corporators, Mayor Swaroopa and the Collector at the PTC area. The Mayor assured to take responsibility for the survival of saplings in the city.

To achieve the target of planting 2 crore saplings involving hills, plain areas, avenue plantations, crop field bunds, farm pond bunds and 610 bald hills have been identified and all solar and wind power project promoters have been involved to make the massive project a success.

The district administration believes that massive tree plantation would change and influence the climate and monsoon patterns, resulting in brighter monsoon prospects for the district.

Two crore saplings are being raised by the nurseries for catering to the district requirement in the next 3 years. Action plans have been sought from stakeholders on tree plantation for the years 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.

The Joint Collector stated that Giri Samrakshana Samithis involving Forest department are being formed for not only to plant but to protect the planted saplings.

The departments of Forests, District Water Management Agency, Agriculture and New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation of Andhra Pradesh had been roped in to make the green mission a big success. As part of the green strategy, the developers of wind and solar power projects are actively involved.

Each wind and power producers are asked to adopt hills in their domain and take responsibility for the plantation, maintenance and protection of the trees. About 2,000 MW of wind and solar energy is being produced from the district and hundreds of hills, mountains and hillocks have been occupied by the promoters of wind power, who installed giant wind fans for producing wind power.

There are 1,004 wind mill towers installed on the hill tops. Each firm is now obligated to take the responsibility to plant trees on the hills occupied by them.

Tree plantation has been taken up in Dharmavaram, Puttaparthi, Hindupur, Penukonda, Raptadu, Guntakal and Tadiparthi on a massive scale under the leadership of the local MLAs. Universities in the district, JNTU and SKU students and faculty actively participated in the plantation drive on Friday.