KT Rama Rao links permits, saplings

Hyderabad: Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Monday participated in plantation drives at various places as part of Telanganaku Haritha Haram and stressed more than once that the state government was contemplating to link building permissions with sapling plantations.

He said that it was being contemplated to make it mandatory to plant 10 saplings for getting a building permission. His announcement gave an added push to the government’s efforts to use the monsoon to make the Haritha Haram progra-mme a success this year.

The programme was launched by Chief Minister K. Chandrasek-har Rao on Friday, and 1.83 crore saplings have been planted across the state since. As per figures obtained from the Telangana forest department, around 33 lakh saplings have been planted in forests.

In Hyderabad, about 29 lakh saplings were planted on a single day on Monday. Over 105 government and private organisations participated in programme. Planting of saplings was reported from about 4,000 sites.

While the state is engaged in planting saplings, workers take down a tree at Gaddiannaram in the city on Monday. (Photo: P. Surendra)

The target is 46 crore saplings across the state. In Hyderabad and surrounding areas, the GHMC and HMDA are responsible for planting saplings, and the forest department in the rest of the state. Last year the state could achieve around 25 per cent of the target of 40 crore plantations in a year due to the poor monsoon.

Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, who planted a sapling at Nims, said, “This two-week programme would be the performance indicator for employees, MPs, MLAs and ministers. Take this initiative seriously as we are obligated to give green and clean environment to our future generations.”