Andhra Pradesh: Pawan Calls for Mass Tree Plantation Drive

Vijayawada: Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan called on every citizen to actively participate in the ‘Vana Mahotsavam’ programme initiated by the Andhra Pradesh government across the state on Friday in Vijayawada.

The Deputy Chief Minister urged people to take this as a social responsibility and plant saplings in large numbers across state.

“The NDA alliance government aims to increase green cover from the current 29 per cent to 50 per cent in the state. To achieve this, everyone should plant saplings in their areas and safeguard them,” Pawan said. Underlining the importance of planting indigenous saplings, he said that these varieties will ensure biodiversity, support soil health, and help protect the environment and human health.

He suggested that people plant indigenous and native tree varieties like the Pongame oil tree, Neem, Sacred fig, Tamarind, Indian sandalwood, Burflower tree, Banyan, Ashoka, Java plum, and other native species during Vana Mahotsavam.

“Planting foreign saplings such as Madagascar almond, Australian Acacia, and others will create an ecological imbalance. These trees not only consume large quantities of groundwater but also drastically affect human health,” he explained.