Review Meeting on Forest, Environment and Wildlife

Haritha-Andhra Pradesh is the goal

The state government finalisedthe date July 1 to start the “Vanam-Manam” program, in which trees will be planted across Andhra Pradesh. The program will be launched from Kondaveedu in Guntur district till “Vanamahotsavam” organized till Karthik maasa.

The Chief Minister conducted a review meeting with the Minister of Forests, Environment and Wildlife, SiddaRaghava Rao, at his residence on Thursday. He instructed all the officials to ensure full participation, and promotion via different forms of media.

“Everyone should be a partner in this initiative”, he said, setting an aim to increase the forest cover from 23 percent to 50 percent by 2029. “Andhra Pradesh should be Haritha-Andhra Pradesh (Green Andhra Pradesh), and funds and resources should be mobilized to make this happen”

Trees should be planted on both sides of the railway lines and roads, and rainwater should be harvested as much as possible. Check dams and rockfill dams should be constructed in large numbers.

The Chief Minister said that geo-tagging of each plant would enable us to calculate our progress, and conduct valuable research.

Tree banks should be developed using innovative technology to create a door-to-door system of plant delivery. “We must try to implement the latest technology, like tree-cloning technique and more, to help realise the dream of a Green Andhra Pradesh”, he said. Tree planting and seed collection programmes must be active throughout the year.

“We must choose plants that grow fast, to survive our climatic conditions, and the horticulture and forest departments should jointly conduct extensive research”, he said at the meeting.

Trees with medicinal properties and commercial uses (maredu(bael), amla(gooseberry), custard fruit, cultivation of paddy and herbs used for Ayurveda), must be spread across the forest areas all over Andhra Pradesh and schools, colleges, universities and industrial campuses should start educating themselves about forest conservation.

He also instructed the officials to ensure that the DWCRA groups must be provided the responsibility and resources to participate in the plantation drive.

Water conservation will also be a priority, and trees will be planted near and around water bodies. The Chief Minister said that Kolleru Lake should be developed and designed to attract more tourists.

He also said that the Tiger Forest, the five bird sanctuaries of the state and mangroves should be protected and maintained.