Plantations to come up across 26,000 km stretch in AP

NELLORE: A mega exercise to raise trees along the 26,000 kilometres long national, state and panchayat raj roads and railway tracks, with a six feet gap between each plant, is in the offing under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in Andhra Pradesh.

Unlike in the past, when seedlings were ignored after a high-profile plantation drive, farmers are being identified to protect plants. Tankers will be provided to them to water the plants for the next three years.

Panchayat Raj minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy disclosed this during a review on implementation of Jagananna Pacha Thoranam scheme during 2021-22 at the RDO’s office in Tirupati on Saturday.

The minister underlined the need to ensure that every work being taken up under NREGA remains useful to the farming community.

Ramachandra Reddy also told the officials to achieve the target of raising fruit crops in one lakh acres besides floriculture in 1000 acres while advising them to identify lands affected by poor rainfall.

Referring to the suggestion of deputy chief minister M. Narayana Swamy, the minister urged officials to plant coconut trees in Jagananna colonies on the completion of construction works.

He instructed them to implement the action plan within the next 100 days in Chittoor district to set itself as a model for the entire state. He appreciated retired officer Chandrasekhar Reddy for the project he devised to save every drop of water.

Chittoor district collector M. Harinarayanan and director of NREGA China Tataiah also spoke. NREGA state council member Viswanath was also present among others.