Telangana Ku Haritha Hāram

Telangana Haritha Hāram is a flagship programme of the Telangana Government envisages to increase the present 24% tree cover in the State to 33% of the total geographical area of the State and it was formally launched by Telangana Chief Minister Sri K Chandrasekhar Rao on july 3rd 2015. ^[1] The thrust areas to achieve the above * two-fold; one initiatives in notified forest areas, and the other initiatives in areas outside the notified forest areas. The first objective is sought to be achieved by a multi-pronged approach of rejuvenating degraded forests, ensuring more effective protection of forests against smuggling, encroachment, fire, grazing and intensive soil and moisture conservation measures following the watershed approach. Major fillip is sought to be given to Social Forestry for achieving the second objective. In the areas outside the notified forest, massive planting activities will be taken up in areas such as; road-side avenues, river and canal bank, barren hill, tank bunds and foreshore areas, institutional premises, religious places, housing colonies, community lands, municipalities, industrial parks, etc. National Forest Policy of India envisages a minimum of 33% of the total geographical area under forest / tree cover to maintain environmental stability and ecological balance; that are vital for sustenance of all life-forms, human, animal and plants.The main agenda of Haritha Haram is to plant 230 crores of plants in Telangana.

Objectives

The main objective of Haritha Haram scheme is to build the Telangana into a Green state by planting trees, which may cover to at least one-third of the state's geographical areas.

The first objective is sought to be achieved by a multi-pronged approach of rejuvenating degraded forests, ensuring more effective protection of forests against smuggling, encroachment, fire, grazing and intensive soil and moisture conservation measures following the watershed approach.

The State Government has initiated a flagship programme, "Telangana Ku Haritha Haram" for taking massive afforestation activities to increase the green cover of the state to the desired level of 33% of the total geographical area.Rapid industrialization and other anthropogenic emissions have led to rapid climate change leading to low and erratic rains, high diurnal temperatures, reduced water flow in the forest streams, frequent droughts and floods. To ameliorate these adverse impacts of climate change, the Government of Telangana has launched a flagship programme‘Telanganaku Haritha Haaram’ (TKHH) in the year 2015. This programme aims to increase the Green Cover from 24% to 33% to the Telangana State geographical area.It is Third biggest greenery initiative at International level

Mandate

It is aimed to plant 230.00 crores seedlings under Telanganaku Haritha Haaram Programme. Out of 230.00 crores seedlings, 120.00 crores seedlings will be planted outside the notified forest areas, 10.00 crores seedlings will be in and around the Hyderabad City ( Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and Hyderabad Metro Development Authority) areas and balance 100.00 crores seedlings will be achieved through rejuvenation of degraded natural forest. It is aimed to plant 40,000 seedlings in each village and 40.00 lakhs seedlings in each assembly constituency for every year.

Planning and implementation

For Effective implementation of the Programme, 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

1. State Level Steering Committee
2. District Level Monitoring and Co-ordination Committee

• In the Village level, Haritha Rakshana Committes formed to monitor the programme under the Chairmanship of Gram Sarpanch.
• Latest technology has been used to monitor the seedling planted through geo – tagging. Forest Department is monitoring the survival percentage by posting the details on the Department website.

The department websites are

• http://harithaharam.telangana.gov.in/
• http://forests.telangana.gov.in/

Planting models

The different planting models are 1. Avenue Plantation 2. Block Plantation 3. Institutional Plantation 4. Tank Fore Shore Plantation (TFS) 5. HomeStead Plantation 6. Agro/ Farm Forestry Plantation 7. Barren Hill Afforestation etc.,

1. Avenue Plantation:- Under this model, tall plants will be planted along the National Highway roads, State Highway roads and streets of villages and towns. The species are to be planted are Silver oak, Kanuga, Neem, Raavi, Marri, Neredu, Rain Tree, Gulmohar, Peltophorum, spathodia, etc.,

2. Block Plantation:- Under this model planting will be taken up in waste lands, common lands and Panchayat lands, . These plantations will be raised in the vicinity of villages to meet the fuel, fodder and MFP needs of the people. The species are to be planted are Albizia, Acacias, Sisso, Neredu, Sundra, Chinduga, Subabool, Glyricidia, etc., planting will be taken up by the concerned departments. After planting the plantations will be handed over to Gram Panchayat for further Maintenance.

3. Institutional Plantation:- Under this model planting will be taken up in the Schools , Colleges, Government Institutions, Hospitals , Graveyards and Private Institutions, Industries, etc.,. The species are to be raised are Neem, Kanuga,Neredu, Maredu, Rela, Gulmohar, Rain tree, Badam, Peltophorum, etc., planting will be taken up by the concerned departments. For protection and watering will be responsibility of institutes and the best institute will be awarded.

4. Tank Fore Shore Plantation:- Under this Model, planting will be taken up in the Tank Fore Shores. The species are to be raised are Nalla Thumma, Kanuga, Neredu, Arjuna etc., Planting will be taken up by the concerned departments incharge of the Mandal. After planting the plantations will be handed over to Gram Panchayat for further Maintenance.

5. Home Stead Plantation:- Under this model planting will be taken up in and around the Houses and colonies to meet the needs of the Household. The species are to be planted are Neredu, Seethaphal, Usiri, Pappaya, Guva, Neem, Maredu, Soapnut, Badam, Munaga and Medicinal Plants etc., Planting will be taken up by the people, seedlings will be supplied & they will be motivated to plant and maintain.

6. Agro Forestry Plantation: Under this model planting will be taken up in the Farm lands. The species are to be planted are Teak, Red Sanders, Tamarind, Munaga, Bombax, Eucalyptus, Bamboo, Subabool, etc., Planting will be taken up by the farmers, seedlings will be supplied & they will be motivated to plant and maintain.

7. Barren Hill Afforestation: Under this model planting will be taken up on Barren Hillocks in order to green the area. Very hardy and pioneer species like Sissoo, Acacia, Nemali Nara, Kanuga, etc., . Planting will be taken by the concerned departments. . After planting the plantations will be handed over to Gram Panchayat for further Maintenance.

Highlights and Achievements

After formation of Telangana State, preparatory works started in the year 2014-15 by raising 38.63 crores seedlings. The 1st phase of Telangana Ku Harithaharam Programme was launched on 03rd July 2015 by the Hon’ble Chief Minister from Rangareddy District. 15.86 crores seedlings could be planted during the year 2015-2016 due to adverse seasonal conditions and deficient rainfall.

The 2nd phase of Telangana Ku Harithaharam was launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister on 08.07.2016 from Hyderabad to Vijayawada National Highway by taking up a record of avenue plantation in the country in one day, covering an extent of 186 Kilometers in one go. Total 31.67 crores seedlings were planted in the state during the year 2016 planting season. In the year 2017, it is contemplated to plant 40.00 crores seedlings in the state.

Development of Urban lung spaces

Forest blocks adjacent to major cities and towns are being developed into urban parks which are acting as urban lung spaces for the local people. So far, 24 urban blocks have been developed

Seed bombing Technique

During this year 2017 planting season the new concept of seed bombing has been introduced under Telanganaku Haritha Haram to take up greenary on slopes, hillocks and remote areas. Seed balls are prepared with earth, manure and other nutrients.Telangana ku hari tha haram is best.

Awards to the participants

To encourage the spirit of competition and to recognise the contribution made in successful implementation of Telanganaku Haritha Haaram, the Government have constituted “Telangana Haritha Mithra Awards” to award to different stake holders including individuals, public representatives, NGOs, Government organisations, Corporate, Rural and Urban bodies. The first year awards have been distributed on 15th August 2016. Recently, the Government have constituted “Telangana State Excellence Award (T-Ex Awards)” to recognise exemplary public services rendered by the civil servants in which Haritha Haaram has also been included. The state Government proposed “Telangana Haritha Mitra Award” to following categories:

A. Individuals 1. General 2.Peoples representatives 3.Forest Department 4.Rural Development Department 5. Other Govt. Departments

B. Institutions / Organisation: 1.Best District 2.Best Gram Panchayats 3.Best Municipality 4.Best Corporation 5.Best Mandal 6.Best Elementary School 7.Best High School 8.Best Junior College 9. Bëst Degree College 10.Best Technical College 11.Best University 12.Best Corporate Body 13. GHMC -1st Best ward 14.GHMC - 2nd Best Ward 15. GHMC - 3rd Best Ward 16.Best Govt. Department

Telangana Haritha Mitra Award to be given at State Level and at District Level every year in each category.

References

^[1]

1. ↑ http://harithaharam.telangana.gov.in/