AP to launch Vanam-Manam after TS Haritha Haram

The Andhra Pradesh government is launching “Vanam –Manam” programme to increase green cover in the state, as a similar programme has already been launched by Telangana government called Haritha Haram. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in a teleconference on Monday urged the people to come forward and participate in large numbers in the ‘Vanam-Manam’ programme scheduled to take place on July 29. One crore saplings will be planted on that day, the Chief Minister said. `Let us increase the green cover in AP by 50 per cent. Join us to turn Andhra Pradesh into Haritha Andhra Pradesh”, he added. The Chief Minister asked the team leaders to monitor plant growth on a regular basis. Besides this, he called for geo-tagging of saplings to protect them. Appealing to the business community and NGOs to take part in the Vanam-Manam programme, Naidu asked them to lend support by donating ‘Tree Guards’ in order to protect the saplings and young plants from wind. Works such as tree plantation, Panta Sanjeevani and construction of CC roads should go on without any pause and works of Neeru Chettu should pick up pace, the Chief Minister said. He called for proper utilization of material component funds of Rs. 635 cr granted to take up CC road construction, Panta Sanjeevani, Neeru Chettu. “Suitable plans should be drafted to utilise Rs 8,000 cr sanctioned under the NREGA. Horticulture works should be accelerated,” the CM suggested. He advised the NGOs to construct ‘Soak Pits’ in villages and towns to allow water to soak into the ground. Soak pits will help absorb groundwater and thereby increase its levels. Calling for proper coordination among the villages and departments, the Chief Minister directed the officials to set up district and department dashboards to monitor their performances and to get real-time updates. Expressing his disappointment on the slow pace of works in the construction of Anganwadi centers, Vermi-compost plants, and individual household toilets, he instructed the officials to speed up the process and achieve the targets set under various schemes by the end of this year. The teleconference was attended by 4,600 officials, public representatives and others.