KHAMMAM: The state government’s new initiative — to plant a nursery in each gram panchayat — has begun in the district. The District Rural Development Authority (DRDA), forest and municipalities have been monitoring the nurseries in their respective areas. Land documentation process has begun and the departments concerned are entering into agreements with the farmers.
The officials have identified lands in 584 gram panchayats and farmers, who had give their lands, will be paid Rs 3,000 per acre per month. It has been decided to raise 3.95 crore plants that will be required for the next phase of Haritha Haram. Many farmers have shown interest in giving their lands for setting up nurseries.
A farmer will get Rs 36,000 per year as lease amount. A lease agreement is needed between the government and the farmers concerned for this.
The DRDA is taking a lead role in raising the nurseries and it will take up the responsibility of 508 gram panchayats. It will have to raise 2.08 crore saplings.
The forest department will raise 87 lakh saplings in 65 gram panchayats. Municipalities and Nagar panchayats such as Kothagudem, Paloncha, Madhira, Sathupalli, Wyra, Yellandu, Manuguru and Khammam Municipal Corporation will raise 1.60 lakh saplings in their respective areas.
Unlike earlier, the officials have been asked to raise more horticulture crops in these nurseries. The concept of this programme is to encourage people to raise saplings on the premises of their houses. Families will prefer to raise fruit saplings. In every 100 saplings, around 40 saplings will be horticulture plants.
It is the village secretary’s responsibility to look after the planting of saplings on hillocks, government lands and other areas in the village area with the cooperation of other departments concerned.
People will also be included in increasing the green areas. Committees, comprising the village secretary and other elders of the village, will be held responsible for protecting the plants.
