TELANGANA KU
HARITHAHARAM
STATEMENT BY
HONORABLE CM KCR
IN THE STATE
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
29-12-2016
The World is in existence in tune with the laws of
nature. Mankind is one of the billions of crores of life species that exist on
this Planet. Despite rapid strides made by the human beings in science and
technology, it is impossible to live beyond the laws of nature.
Forgetting this Truth, man is destroying the nature and
often cutting the branch on which he is sitting. In the beginning there was only
water and vegetation on this Planet. Human beings first started cutting the
trees, for his survival. He has cleared the land of tress, levelled it to use
as agriculture fields and for making shelters. Man’s survival depended on the
fruits given by the trees. As the Civilization advanced man has lost the
balance with the nature. He has indiscriminately destroyed the environment.
This has resulted in several natural calamities like the Earthquakes, Typhoons
and a steep increase in the Global warming. In the process, rivers and other
water bodies fast disappearing and the human settlements have become victims of
the pollution. Human Beings are in a desperate search for clean air and water.
After having experienced the adverse affects of the destruction, man is now
trying to find ways and means to protect the environment. All countries in the
World have realised the importance of environment protection.
Environmental balance is possible if only there is 33
per cent green cover on our Planet. However,
this is not the status in our country now. According to a survey conducted by
Climate Realty Project World wide, in Canada there is the highest ratio between
an individual and tress at 1: 8,953, in Russia 1:4, 461, USA, 1:716, in China
1: 102 and in India 1: 28 only. On an average, per head there are only 422
trees worldwide. This has amply proved that our country is at the threshold of
danger.
As far as Telangana State is concerned, the nature has
given us a boon in the form of the forest cover. In the erstwhile Adilabad,
Khammam, Medak, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Rangareddy districts we
have thick and deep forests. Forestland spread over 26, 903 square kilometers
in the State. Of this at one point of time, there was 25 per cent of thick
forest and 50 per cent of moderate forest cover in the State. The rest 25 per
cent used to be a land with shrubs and bushes. But now, only 1.06 percent of
thick forest cover and about 28.95 percent of moderate forest cover is
available as part of the forest land. The rest has become a barren land. Earlier
governments have totally neglected the forests and allowed deforestation in a
big way. They never had the vision to restore the forest cover.
The Government statistics reveal that, in the United AP
State, for the protection, plantation and restoration of forests, tree planning
and other such activities a meager Rs 14 crore per year was spent on an
average. During 2004-2014, only Rs 130.16 Crores was spent by the forest
department under the state plan expenditure. Tree plantation program was just a
formality. Between 1980 and 2014 in Telangana tree plantation was limited to
only 3.17 lakh hectares. In these 34 years, just 35.3 crore saplings were
planted in Telangana. According to the Government statistics, the forestland of
2.94 lakh hectare was encroached upon during the same period. This has led to
Telangana region paying a heavy price. Barring some regions in the erstwhile Adilabad,
Khammam and Warangal districts, the rest of Telangana region has been facing a
deficit rainfall every year.
Abundant rain fall is experienced where the forests are
dense and drought is predominant in the deteriorating forest areas. The district
of Jayashankar Bhoopalpally, Komaram Bhim Asifabad, Bhadradri Kottagudem and
Nirmal where forest cover is more, the rainfall is also more. The districts
where the forest cover is less such as, Karimnagar, Warangal Urban, Warangal
Rural, Janagaon, Siddipet, Siricilla, Yadadri, Rangareddy, Mahabubnagar,
Jogulamba Gadwal, Wanaparthi the rainfall is less than the state average
rainfall. The districts Karimnagar, Gadwal, Hyderabad, Janagaon, Warangal
Rural, Warangal Urban, Suryapet, Yadadri, Wanaparthi, Sangareddy, Rangareddy, Mahabubnagar,
Medchal, Nalgonda where the extent of forest is less than 10 percent the
situation is gruesome. In days to come, unless checked there is a chance that
these districts will soon become desert. Khammam, Pedapalli, Vikarabad, Siricilla,
Jagtial, Medak, Nizamabad, Kamareddy where the extent of forest is less than 30
percent, it is evident that the situation in these districts would also
deteriorate.
The wildlife situation is also in chaos due to the indiscriminate
destruction of forests. Forest based wild animals perturbed with the
deforestation migrating to habitations in search of food. The monkey menace is one of the problems that are
being faced by the agricultural sector. There is no point in accusing the dumb
animal as it is a man made mistake. Ways and means should be found out to solve
the problem.
No one else but we have to be solely responsible for the
grave disaster that is going to occur if we are not alert to the ground
realties. Keeping this alarming problem in view, the Government of Telangana
has started a massive programme of “Telangana Ku Haritha Haram”.
In the process of everlasting and great efforts put
forth worldwide to increase the green cover, “Telangana Ku Haritha Haram” is the
third largest such programme attempted by human being. The first programme took
place in China where people planted trees along 4500 kilometers and built the green
wall of China. The Second biggest effort that took place was in Brazil. To
conserve the forests along Amazon River, 100 crore trees were planted under the
programme “One Billion trees for Amazon”. Telangana State Government’s Haritha
haram will soon surpass the first two-programme worldwide.
The objective of Haritha Haram is to improve the green
cover to 33 percent in the state. The goal is to plant about 230 Crore
seedlings. About 120 Crore seedlings are being planted in villages, along roads
in towns, open areas, along banks of lakes, canal, and fields, in the premises
of Government, private Organizations, colonies, and in every house. Plans and
implementation is in progress to rejuvenate by way of planting 100 crores
saplings in the forest area to replace the trees that were lost due to
inappropriate care. We are planting 10 Crore seedlings within the limits of
GHMC. As part of this programme which started on July 3, 2015, about 15.86 Crore
seedlings during first year and 31.67 Crore seedlings this year were planted.
We are planning to plant another 40 Crore seedlings next year. The programme of
planting on an average 40,000 seedlings in every village and 40 lakh seedlings
in every constituency is being implemented on a massive scale. The programme of
planting 5 Crore Eetha seedlings on banks of lakes in order to save the toddy
tappers profession is going on. This year about 50 lakh Palm trees (Eetha) seedlings
were planted.
The Government is aware that its responsibility does
not end with Planting of saplings. Follow up action is taken to water the
seedlings and to save them. Water is being supplied to seedlings with the help
of 3200 Tankers. The programme for the conservation of seedlings is continuing
in Gram Panchayats, Municipalities under supervision of District Collectors.
Forest Department is undertaking responsibility of conservation of seedlings in
the forestlands.
At the time of formation of the Telangana State, in the
past 35 years 35 crores of seedlings were planted as per the Government
statistics. After our Government came to power, 47.98 Crores of seedlings were
planted in two and half years. In the past 35 years efforts were made for
renewing forest in 3.17 lakh hectares of the forestland only. But in these 2
years in 4.31 lakh hectares plantation was done. In order to keep the seedlings
easily accessible to the people, 4000 nurseries are developed statewide. Today
one nursery is available and accessible to the people for every two villages on
an average in the state.
Comprehensive measures were taken in order to
strengthen and expand the forest department, which was neglected in the past. Increased
the allocation of funds in the State’s Budget for the forest department and
also increased number of employees.
All
out efforts have been made to strengthen the forest department that was
neglected earlier. Our Government has allocated Rs 1243 Crores for Haritha Haram
since the inception of the Telangana State to till date whereas only Rs 14
Crores was spent by the earlier government on plantation. This will mean, on an
average, the Telangana Government is spending Rs 400 Crores for extending the green
cover. This is 30 times more when compared to the allocations made by the
previous Governments in the then United AP.
In tune with the needs, requirements and necessities,
the Forest Department has been reorganized. For the first time, in the Telangana
State about 28 District Forest Officers were appointed. Earlier there were 28
Forest Divisions, and we have increased them to 37. Forest Ranges have also been
increased from 106 to 185. About 469 sections were increased to 831. Regular Beats
have been increased from 1428 to 3132. Accordingly numbers of employees were
also increased. 2058 fresh posts have been created and would be filled up in
the department. We have sanctioned additional 67 Range Officers Posts, 90
Section Officer Posts, 1857 Beat Officer posts and 44 other posts.
The initiatives taken by the government for conserving forestlands
and curb teakwood smuggling are yielding good results. We have succeeded in
preventing to a larger extent felling of trees in the forests. In the past, on
an average, 15000 tree-cutting incidents took place and this year the number is
reduced to about 5000. Five notorious teak smugglers were arrested under the PD
Act and were sent to Jail. In the past there were no sufficient numbers of
vehicles to do the patrolling in forests. In the past forest department had only
237 vehicles in total. After our Government came to power, we have provided
2143 new vehicles to the Forest department. Among them were 26 Cars, 124 Jeeps
and 1993 Motor Cycles.
I would like to clarify regarding the rights of people
who live depending on forests. In the past, the Government accorded Recognition
of Forest Rights (R.O.F.R) under which, the people living in the forests have a
right to procure the forest produce and make a living. But they don’t have any
right to level the forest or cut trees. This right is intended not to disturb
the living style of Adivasis. I would like to clarify through this house that
this right does not extend to right over the forest land.
Telangana Ku Haritha Haram is a continuous programme
and not mere Government programme routine in nature. Haritha haram is a movement
with the partnership of people. I gave the slogan, “Rains should return” and “Monkeys
should go back” and it had touched hearts of the people. During the rainy
season, every one had planted saplings in all available and suitable places by
obtaining from local Nurseries. People have responded enthusiastically to the
slogan given by the government and turned up in thousands and planted seedlings
on a massive scale along the highways of Vijayawada and Bengaluru.
Let me assure this August House that the great
endeavour for increasing the green cover on Telangana soil will continue
uninterruptedly and voluntarily. Let me convey to the people through this House
that despite political differences, all sections should come forward and unveil
the Green Telangana.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Inoventic services mentioned below,
website design in tirunelveli
Printing in tirunelveli
Brochure design in tirunelveli
Logo design in tirunelveli