The AP government is proposing a novel scheme and considering giving additional marks for green initiatives of students and also preference in employment, according to BC Welfare Minister K Ravindra.
After launching the ‘Vanam Manam’ programme at Kambalakonda Eco-Reserve here on Friday, he stressed the need for community participation in greening of the State. “The green initiative of the State being taken up in a mission mode – Haritandhra Pradesh – aims to increase the forest cover to 50 per cent,” he said.
He planted a sapling in the Kambalakonda reserve forest here to mark the launching of the programme in the district. The district is aiming to plant 20 lakh trees as part of the programme.
District Collector Pravin Kumar said all the institutions and establishments in the city had been asked to participate in the programme to plant trees on vacant lands and programmes would be taken up in the rural areas. The focus will be on coffee plantation in the Agency areas. The plantation, watering and maintenance and replacement of dead saplings over the next three years would be funded from the MGNREGS funds, he added.