Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma on Wednesday directed officials concerned to monitor the flagship programme of the State government, Haritha Haram. Rajiv Sharma held a coordination meeting of various departments at Secretariat here with principal secretaries, heads of departments and other officials on the green drive programme being held across the State.

He reiterated that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was evincing keen interest on making the flagship programme a great success by reaching the target of planting 46 crore saplings across the State. The officials should send daily online reports on the programme to him by 5 pm, he said. Rajiv Sharma directed them to focus on the prestigious green cover expansion programme and measures for protecting the saplings planted at all districts, towns, villages, houses, habitats and along roads with needed fencing and cover.

He also directed forest officials concerned to submit proposals for funds for the programme besides coordinating with other officials and staff of other departments. Keeping people’s demand in view, we have to focus on distributing saplings of their choice, the CS stated. The officials should bring Teakwood and other plants from neighbouring State and distribute them, he added.

Extra care must be taken while transporting myriad varieties of plants such as flower, fruits, shade and medicinal to selected locations in all the districts, Rajiv Sharma said. Directing to involve big industrialists and businessmen to participate in the Haritha Haram programme, the Chief Secretary asked the officials to prepare plans for next year’s green drive along with fund proposals.

Accelerate Haritha Haram: Collector

Stressing the need to accelerate plantation under the ongoing Haritha Haram programme, Warangal District Collector Vakati Karuna directed irrigation and excise officials to complete the task at the earliest. The Collector on Wednesday held a video conference with irrigation and excise officials and MPDOs and directed them to take up bund plantation and plant five lakh saplings on Mission Kakatiya tank bunds and 526 acres of society land available in the district.

Vakati Karuna also said that besides plantation, protection of planted saplings should also be taken care by departments concerned and added that fencing should also be made simultaneously. She said that Teak plants must be covered with fencing to achieve 100 per cent survival. The Collector said that payments could be made for the fencings and saplings under NREGA and special software is created for the purpose.

The Collector also directed the MPDOs and Tahasildars to identify government waste lands for block plantation. DWAMA Project Director Sekhara Reddy, DFO Srinivasa Rao, CPO Ramachandra Reddy, Irrigation SE, Excise and other department officials concerned participated.