YSR targets 30 cr saplings planted in monsoon

Hyderabad, June 19: In his firm determination of turning Andhra Pradesh into a Haritaandhrapradesh, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy has asked the Department of Environment and Forests and the Social Forestry wing to take up an ambitious plan of planting over 30 crore saplings during this season.

Massive plantations should be taken up in all industries, both big and small, government buildings, national highways, state highways, district and rural roads, internal roads, hospitals, all educational institutions from professional colleges to schools, Dr Reddy said yesterday while holding a detailed review meeting with all the departments concerned on social forestry at the Secretariat.

He suggested that the Pollution Control Board (PCB) should give final clearance to industries only after ensuring the greeneries and planting of trees.

The CM directed the Environment and Forest Department and the Pollution Control Board to prepare a master plan in the next 15 days for achieving the ambitious goal of a haritaandhrapradesh.

He said planting of saplings and protection of the trees should be enforced and monitoring should also be done by the PCB.

The CM said the industries were expected to keep one fourth area under green cover and this should be strictly adhered to, adding that small industries were having some problems and hence the forest department should help them in the green coverage.

Dr Reddy will also address the district collectors, social forestry officials and other officials through video conference on June 21 and direct them to take up plantations in a big way.

UNI