Kadapa: Arrears make maintenance of nurseries tough

Kadapa: The social forestry nurseries which are being grown as part of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment guarantee scheme (MNREGS) are facing financial crisis.

In the last 4 months, the officers were not able to pay bills to the labourers and supervisors. The government has to release Rs 1.13 crore towards pending bills.

There are a total of 16 social nurseries being maintained by the social forestry department. Of the 50 lakh saplings  targeted, 19,77,000 plants are being grown in the nurseries. Due to the severe heat wave conditions in the last few months, the target could not  be reached.   

To get water for growing the saplings, the social forestry officials got 3-4 borewells dug up to 1,000 feet  but could not strike water in Badvel area. Now, tankers are being hired to water the saplings which are on the verge of drying up. Around 40-50 workers are involved in maintaining each nursery.

For the last four months, there have been no funds sanctioned and the workers have not been paid their wages. Appeals asking for the pending wages has already been sent to the higher officials.

Kadapa district, which stands first in maintenance of greenery in the state, is now facing dearth of funds and finding it hard to stick to its first position. The Kadapa, Proddutur and Rajampeta social forestry divisions are waiting for the sanction of NREGS funds.

The pending wages for the labourers and other staff total to Rs 12,15,801 and the material component to RS 98,50,931, while the administrative expenses run up to the tune of Rs 26,48,430. Put together, they amount to Rs 1,13,31,575.

Lack of water due to the drought-like conditions is making it hard for the workers to keep the plants alive. At the Gandi nursery, a pipeline for 1 km was arranged and water is being drawn from one agriculture borewell. Soon as the monsoon begins,  the social forestry department starts distributing the saplings raised to farmers and other organisations.

At present, neem, Indian Beech tree, rose apple, Phyllanthus emblica, white custard apple, teak,  etc. are ready for distrbution.

District deputy conservator of forests (social forestry wing) Bandela Nagaraju said, “we are ready to distribute the plants in the rainy season.”

Farmers have to bring their Aadhaar card or any other identity and we will supply the saplings as per their requirement.  Already we are supplying saplings to various government wings as per their requirement, free of cost.”