VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu along with deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar planted sets of saplings in the Eco Park at Mangalagiri on Friday, marking the Vana Mahotsavam programme.The chief minister exhorted the public to plant saplings to reach the target of 50% greenery cover for AP, and simultaneously save the existing trees.Naidu said, “Under Vanamahotsavam-2024, all of you should take responsibility to ensure 50 per cent green cover for the state, with the slogan of ‘Let’s strive for Haritandhra, Let’s plant saplings’.”The CM took a pledge from the children participating in the Vanamahotsavam. “The future of our children is the goal of the coalition government. Let’s all take part in the Harita Yajna (green penance).” He vowed to embellish every house premise and village with greenery.He announced, “Henceforth those who have planted more saplings will be recognized and given awards on August 15 and January 26.Naidu said deputy CM Pawan Kalyan was passionate about the environment. “That’s why he personally planted trees. Handling the departments of environment and forests, he is an inspiration to many.”The CM said, “If each person plants two trees each year, it will come to around 10 crore trees. The target for this year is to plant one crore trees. When one crore saplings are planted, the green cover will increase by 0.33 per cent.”He said the Amaravati region must be developed. “We will make Amaravati a beautiful capital, by taking forward the blue and green concept, under which 51 per cent of the capital area would be covered by trees.”Naidu said, “In order to get 50 per cent green cover for the state, the planting programme should be carried out like a movement across the 26 districts. City forests will be raised in all the 175 constituencies. Through the Miyawaki Japanese technology initiative, we will raise a plantation in one hectare and this would be carried forward as a movement.”“I appreciate the suggestion of Pawan Kalyan that good results can be achieved by combining MGNREGA funds for the Miyawaki initiative,” he said.He recalled that AP had undertaken the Clean and Green programme in the past, which was a revolution, and after that “we encouraged percolation pits.” In the Mangalagiri Eco Park, 300 people are walking every morning and this should be increased to 3,000, he said.The CM said, “Our idea is Harithandhra Pradesh and our ambition is Swarnanndhra Pradesh. All the children should make a resolution to plant saplings in the name of your mothers and should take care of saplings and trees.”
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