The Telangana government aims to plant 230 crore trees by 2019 as part of its 'Haritha Haram' green campaign.
"The total number of trees to be planted under this programme is totalling 230 crore by 2019," the government said in a statement on the programme in the Legislative Assembly today.
The programme aims at increasing the green cover in the state from the present 24 per cent to 33 per cent in the state, it said.
The Congress government (in undivided Andhra Pradesh) during 2004-2014 spent Rs 130 crore on conservation and promotion of green cover, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao said in his speech on the issue.
According to the CM, his government spent Rs 2,008 crore in the last three and half years since it assumed office.
"3.17 crore trees were planted in Telangana during 34 years, from 1980 to 2014 when Telangana was formed," he said.
According to the statement, 15.86 crore seedlings were planted during 2015-16. During 2016-17, 31.67 crore seedlings were planted. "During the current year about 34.04 crore seedlings have been planted till date," it said.
Rao took exception to Left parties supporting some 'Gottikoyas' (who reside in forests) who were recently asked to leave the place in Bhupalpalli district by the administration as they cut down trees in forest.
The 'Gottikayas' were "intruders" into Telangana, he said, adding they can live in the state but it was not correct to cut down trees in forests.
Union Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Harsh Vardhan appreciated the efforts of the state government to improve green cover, he added.
Rao also said the state government would bring a new law for panchayati raj bodies under which the village panchayat bodies could work for increasing green cover.
He also favoured appointing a house committee to go into the issue of promoting green cover.
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