Scanty rainfall hits Haritha Haram

KARIMNAGAR: Following prolonged dry spells and unavailability of saplings, the district’s target of planting 4.10 crore saplings under the ongoing second phase of Haritha Haram appears a formidable task. However, district authorities are confident that they would be able to accomplish the goal by end-August. With the Meteorolo-gical Department predicting good rainfall this monsoon season, autho-rities began preparations to undertake the second phase of the ambitious THH from June itself. As many as 4.20 crore saplings were readied for the second edition of plantation drive, which was begun on July 8 and is scheduled to end on July 23.

Planting 4.10 crore saplings, was set as target in this current phase. In all 1.22 crore saplings were planted from July 8 to 18. About 14 lakh saplings were planted on Tuesday, as per information available with officials concerned.  This means on an average, 1.20 lakh saplings are being planted per day.  Just as how scanty rainfall hit the first phase of this massive plantation drive hard in 2015, prolonged dry spells seems to be affecting the current edition of THH. Except in the beginning of the programme, the district has not recorded rains for the past few days. Due to this, watering and protecting has now become major challenge, an official said.