Union Director General of Forests Siddhanth Das praise Telangana State initiatives
Union Director General of Forests Sri Siddhanth Das has hailed the programmes launched by the Telangana State government in increasing the green cover and better utilisation of the river waters and described the programmes as a role model for others to emulate. He said trees would grow where there is water, where there are trees, there is rain and this is how the bond between water and trees exists which can never be separated. He congratulated the Telangana State government for realising this truth and implementing programmes like Haritha Haram and programmes for comprehensive utilisation of water. He met Hon’ble Chief Minister Sri K. Chandrashekar Rao at Pragathi Bhavan here on Saturday. A discussion ensued between the two on the irrigation projects and programmes aimed at increasing the green cover. The CM explained to him how within a week of assuming the office, the government had initiated programmes for the revival of the forests and encouraging the social forestry. The CM said through Haritha Haram programme, it is planned to grow 230 crore saplings throughout the state. He said there are 4000 plant nurseries in the state as on date and by next year every village Panchayat will have one nursery. To create awareness among the next generation, Haritha Haram will be introduced in the school texts from the next year. The CM said though River Krishna and Godavari flow on either side of the State, there were no projects to utilise the water and hence the Telangana government has embarked upon constructing major projects. He said under Mission Kakatiya programme, 46,000 tanks were being revived. Due to this, there will be an increase in moisture in the climate and increase in the levels of the groundwater, the CM said and sought help from the Centre to these initiatives. Ministers Sri T Harish Rao, Sri Jogu Ramanna, Deputy Speaker Ms Padma Devender Reddy and others were present.