CS Somesh Kumar says the Municipal and Panchayat Acts are revolutionary as they ensure 10 per cent allocation of funds towards green budget

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar on Monday made it clear that the new Municipal and Panchayat Raj Acts envisage the removal of elected public representatives if they failed to ensure 85 per cent survival rate of saplings.

He said the Acts are revolutionary as they ensure 10 per cent allocation of funds towards green budget. Both the Acts reflect the vision of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to increase the green cover of the State to 33 per cent.

Somesh Kumar was addressing a gathering after taking part in a plantation drive organised by HMDA on the Chief Minister’s 66th birthday at Sanjeeviah Park. The Chief Secretary planted Ponna Chettu (Caophyllum inophyllum). “The Chief Minister’s passion towards Haritha Haram is an inspiration to everyone,” he said.

Chief Advisor Rajiv Sharma said every inch of vacant land and all forest blocks were being covered under Haritha Haram. Over 30 crore saplings were planted across the State since its formation, he said. Agriculture Secretary Janardhan Reddy said saplings were available in abundance and there was a need to take up massive plantation programmes to maintain the ecological balance. Special Chief Secretary Health Shanti Kumari asked the officials to rededicate themselves to Haritha Haram.

Commissioner and Director of Municipal Administration Satyanarayana said over eight lakh saplings were being planted in all municipalities. GHMC Commissioner Lokesh kumar said saplings were being planted in all the 150 wards of Hyderabad. He further said 1.26 lakh saplings were being planted in all tourist and religious places in the city.

Principal Secretary Municipal Administration Arvind Kumar presided over the meeting. Senior officers Sunil Sharma, Vikas Raj, Rajat Kumar and Ravi Gupta, apart from HMDA staff attended the event.

Meanwhile, plantation drives, clothes and food distribution, blood donation camps and special pujas in temples marked the 66th birthday celebrations of Chandrashekhar Rao. People in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, apart from TRS cadres residing abroad, celebrated he leader’s



birthday.

Industries Minister KT Rama Rao planted saplings at the inauguration to two companies in Genome Valley. Telangana State Legislative Council Chairman Gutha Sukhender Reddy, Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and other staff members of the State Legislature planted saplings on the Assembly premises. They also distributed clothes to Class IV employees of the Assembly.

All the Cabinet Ministers took part in massive plantation programmes in Hyderabad and district headquarters. Ministers such as Satyavathi Rathod donated blood at medical camps, while others distributed tricycles to differently abled persons.

TRS leaders recalled how Chandrashekhar Rao led the Telangana movement and achieved the goal of separate Statehood. At Telangana Bhavan, party leaders distributed wheelchairs and clothes to differently abled persons.

Several government departments, corporations and other institutions besides private companies, educational institutions and other organisations, also took part in the plantation programmes. While the exact number of saplings planted on the occasion could not be quantified, the number is estimated at 50 lakh.

Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav organised celebrations for TRS leaders and the public at Jal Vihar in Hyderabad. A massive 66-kg cake was cut on the occasion. Traditional arts and culture of Telangana — Bathukamma, Oggu Dolu, Puliveshalu, Gussadi, Kommu-Koya and Yakshaganam, among others — were on display.

TRS’ NRI wing leaders in 40 countries, led by TRS NRI wing coordinator Mahesh Bigala, celebrated the Chief Minister’s birthday by planting saplings in US, UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Malaysia, Austria, South Africa, Canada, Kuwait, Qatar and Tanzania, among others.

Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar planting a sapling as part of Haritha Haram at Sanjeeviah Park on Monday. (R) Home Minister Mahmood Ali along with Telangana State DGP M Mahendar Reddy and other senior police officers take part in the celebrations at the Police Headquarters in Petlaburj.