Telangana Ku Haritha Hāram

Telangana Ku Haritha Haram or Haritha Haram is a large-scale tree-planting program implemented by the Government Telangana to increase the amount of tree cover in the state from 24% to 33% .^[1]

History

The program was launched by Telangana Chiefminister Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao on 3 July 2015. It is one of the Telangana Flagship programmes to rejuvenate degraded forests, protecting these forests from threats such as smuggling, encroachment, fire and grazing. It adopted intensive soil and moisture conservation measures based on a watershed approach.^[2]

In the areas outside the existing forest, massive planting activities were to be taken up in areas such as; road-side avenues, river and canal banks, barren hills, tank bunds and foreshore areas, institutional premises, religious places, housing colonies, community lands, municipalities and industrial parks. National Forest Policy of India envisages a minimum of 33% of the total geographical area under forest cover to maintain environmental stability and ecological balance, which is vital for the sustenance of all life-forms, be it human, animal or plant.^[3]

Planning and implementation

Specific duties and responsibilities are assigned to different committees. These committees are doing regular field inspections and monitoring the ongoing plantation and nursery works. The committees are the State Level Steering Committee and the District Level Monitoring and Co-ordination Committee.

At the Village level, Haritha Rakshana Committees were formed to monitor the program under the Chairmanship of Gram Sarpanch.

The seedlings are monitored through geotagging. The Forest Department posts survival percentage details on the Department website.

Planting models

The program uses multiple planting models:

• Avenue Plantation – Plants will be planted along National Highway roads, State Highway roads and streets of villages and towns. Species include Silver oak, Kanuga, Neem, Raavi, Marri, Neredu, Rain Tree, Gulmohar, Peltophorum and Spathodia.
• Block Plantation – Planting will be attempted in wastelands, common lands and Panchayat lands. These plantations will be raised in the vicinity of villages to meet the fuel, fodder and MFP needs. Species include Albizia, Acacias, Sisso, Neredu, Sundra, Chinduga, Subabool and Glyricidia. Planting will be performed by the concerned departments. After planting the plantations will be handed over to Gram Panchayat for maintenance.
• Institutional Plantation - Planting will be done at Schools, Colleges, Government Institutions, Hospitals, Graveyards and Private Institutions and Industries. Species include Neem, Kanuga, Neredu, Maredu, Rela, Gulmohar, Raintree, Badam and Peltophorum. Planting will be performed by the concerned departments. Protection and watering will be the responsibility of the best institute.
• Tank Fore Shore Plantation – Planting will be at Tank Fore Shores. Species include Nalla Thumma, Kanuga, Neredu and Arjuna. Planting will be taken up by the departments in charge of the Mandal. After planting the plantations will be handed over to Gram Panchayat for maintenance.
• Homestead Plantation - Planting will be around the Houses and colonies to meet Household needs. Species include Neredu, Seethaphal, Usiri, Pappaya, Guva, Neem, Maredu, Soapnut, Badam, Munaga and Medicinal Plants. Planting and maintenance will be performed by the residents.
• Agro Forestry Plantation - Planting will be on farmland. Species include Teak, Red Sanders, Tamarind, Munaga, Bombax, Eucalyptus, Bamboo and Subabool. Farmers will do the planting and maintenance.
• Barren hill – Planting will be on Barren Hillocks. Species include hardy plants such as Sissoo, Acacia, Nemali Nara and Kanuga. Planting will be by the concerned departments. Maintenance will be performed by Gram Panchayats.

ACHIEVEMENTS

• In this programme, it is proposed to plant and rejuvenate 230 crores seedlings

as follows :

• Outside Forests areas – 130 Crores (Including 10.00 Crs. in HMDA &

GHMC areas.

• 100 Crores within Forest areas (20.00 Crs through plantations and 80.00

Crs through rejuvenation.

Achievements of Forest Department:

Block Plantations: Block plantations are taken up in the forest areas where old eucalyptus plantations are harvested, in the retrieved encroached areas and in the open areas. These Block plantations are taken up in Semi mechanical method (SMM) and Labour intensive method (LI). Total achievements till 2016-17 – 18920 Ha Planting Achievements so far:

• 2015-16 : 15.86 crores Plants
• 2016-17 : 31.67 crores Plants
• 2017-18 : 15.10 crores Plants

(till 30-07-2017)

Urban lung spaces

Forest blocks adjacent to major cities and towns are under development as urban parks, acting as urban "lung" spaces. As of 2016, 24 urban blocks had been developed

Seed bombing technique

During 2017 the concept of seed bombing was introduced to plant on slopes, hillocks and remote areas. Seed balls are prepared with earth, manure and other nutrients.

Recognition

To encourage competition and to recognise successful implementation, the Government established the "Telangana Haritha Mithra Awards" to award stakeholders including individuals, public representatives, NGOs, Government organizations, Corporate, Rural and Urban bodies. The first awards were distributed on 15 August 2016. The Government established "Telangana State Excellence Award (T-Ex Awards)" to recognise exemplary public service rendered by civil servants. The state Government proposed "Telangana Haritha Mitra Award" for the following categories:

• Individuals - General, People's representatives, Forest Department, Rural Development Department, Other Government Departments
• Institutions / Organisation - Best District, Best Gram Panchayats, Best Municipality, Best Corporation, Best Mandal, Best Elementary School, Best High School, Best Junior College, Bëst Degree College, Best Technical College, Best University, Best Corporate Body, GHMC -1st, 2nd and 3rd Best Wards, Best Govt. Department

The awards are given at State and District Levels every year in each category.

References

External links

• Official site
• Forest Department site