The Panchayat Raj & IT Minister K Taraka Rama Rao has said the Telangana’s Harita Haram project of planting 230 crore saplings, including 40 crore saplings in the first year, in three years as the third largest plantation drive in the world after China and Brazil.

Haritha Haram Largest Green Drive in World

In China; 800 crore saplings were planted to check the advancing Gobi desert, and in Brazil; 400 crore saplings were planted. The Telangana state ranks third in the world in conducting a similar exercise, said IT minister KT Rama Rao

KTR said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao took a decision in this regard to restore the ecological balance in the State. He exhorted representatives of local bodies to involve the people in a big way in the exercise on the lines of the Mission Kakatiya.

The target is to plant 5.25 crore saplings, he said asking authorities to give merit certificates and awards to those who pay special interest in the plantation drive. District Collector has been directed to coordinate with all government departments in conducting the exercise.

The District Rural Development Agency has been asked to hold a review meeting with the Indira Kranti Patham groups in rural areas for at least 10 days.

The officials have been directed to keep ready plans to conduct the plantation drive from the grassroots level, he said. It was decided to plant 6 lakh saplings on either side of panchayat roads, which measure up to 1300 km, in Karimnagar district.

He said that the rural development department in partnership with the NREGS would spend Rs.500 crore on Haritaharam project. He said discussions were under way to resolve the strike issue of NREGS workers. He announced Rs.5 crore for construction of Zilla Parishad building and promised to allocate more if necessary.

The Chief Minister is of the view to replace the existing Collectorate building with the integrated office complex. An action plan to this effect is being drawn up, he said.