Telangana govt aims to plant 40 crore saplings this year

The Telangana government aims at planting 40 crore saplings this year as part of its 'Harita Haram' (green ornament) tree plantation drive.
The campaign aims to increase green cover in the state from the present 24 per cent to 33 per cent, state Forest Minsiter Jogu Ramanna said here today.
The campaign, which began two years ago, would be kicked off by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at Karimnagar on July 12.
Ramanna said about 49 crore saplings have been planted in the last two years and that the target is to plant 40 crore trees this year.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Kadiam Srihari, who looks after education, said they aim to plant 50 lakh trees this year.

Noting that school children would be involved in a big way in the campaign to promote green cover in the state, Srihari said rallies to raise awareness on tree plantation, elocution and essay writing competitions would be conducted for the school children on July 15.
Prizes would be distributed to the winners of the competitions on August 15, he said.
The students would be encouraged to take up tree plantation within the premises of the concerned education institution as well, Srihari added.