On Saturday morning, as part of the Azadi ka amrit mahotsav programme, 20,000 saplings were planted in 60 acres of land in Chaman Khan Doddi village of Gattu mandal. The district Collector Valluri Kranti supervised the plantation.
The collector mentioned that 240,000 saplings were planted in a single day under the Harita Haram programme in Telangana state. She also watered the plants and expressed joy in undertaking such a large-scale plantation. She congratulated the villagers who took part in the program and the laborers of the Employment Guarantee Scheme. The collector also appreciated the staff of MP DO and DRDA for their contributions.
She emphasized the importance of trees in providing the air we breathe. Having trees around the village brings numerous benefits, including increased rainfall and improved groundwater levels. The collector encouraged farmers to plant trees on their lands, along canals, and near their fields. She mentioned that orchards are provided under the employment guarantee scheme, along with oil palm trees and drip facilities. The collector urged villagers to collectively take care of the trees and ensured cooperation from the Collectorate.
Gattu mandal has a low literacy rate and lagging education, making it necessary to focus on skill development for youth. The DRDO officer, Umadevi, stated that a skill development program would train youth in various trades to secure new jobs. Niti Ayog is organizing training to develop the environment in five aspects. A house-to-house survey will be conducted to understand the needs of the people and develop the embankment area accordingly. Skill training in the environment sector will be prioritized after education, employment, and agriculture. The goal is to prevent Gattu mandal from becoming a backward area again.
Instead of cutting down trees, many people were made aware and planted saplings. A single shade tree can provide oxygen for ten people. MPP Vijayakumar stated that forest area should be increased along roadsides, with plants being grown on both sides. He also encouraged people to plant a tree on their birthdays to commemorate their best moments. The Telangana state government is planting millions of saplings under the Harita Haram program, so it is crucial to protect them. In Macharla village, 75 saplings were planted as part of the Azadi ka amrit mahotsav program.
DRDA officer Uma Devi, Farest range officer Deva Raju, MP DO Chennayya, Tashildar Ravikumar, MPP Vijayakumar, Sarpanches, MP TC members, and others participated in the event.
