It seems like the spirit of Van Mahotsav, or Forest Day, is spreading far and wide across the nation. While Maharashtra is currently hosting the biggest plantation drive across the state, Telangana has announced plans of conducting a similar programme beginning on July 8. According to a report by The Hindu, Telangana will launch their campaign ‘Telanganaku Haritha Haaram’ with an expected 85,000 participants from schools, self-help groups, and various government bodies. The drive is to be conducted along the 165 kilometre-long National Highway, beginning from Hyderabad right up to the state border of Andhra Pradesh. This stretch of land crosses six assembly constituencies, ten mandals and 50 villages; the government has also prepared a plan of action to encourage voluntary participation from residents of the passing villages.

As per reports, the aim of the drive is to increase the state’s diversity of flora; participants will be planting a different variety of saplings every 10 kilometres, they’ll be not only flower-bearing plants but also those that can provide shade to travellers of sunny days. The state’s Forest Department is already working towards sourcing and supplying saplings of medicinal, fruit, flower and shade-giving plants from different corners of the region. To make the drive go off smoothly, officials have divided the allotted stretch of land into 14 segments, each one having a counter to provide the volunteers with saplings. The officials at these counters will also take measures to protect the saplings once planted. 
On the same day, government bodies of the respective constituencies will carry out the drive in their districts, making the state greener than before. It is even reported that Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao will be participating at the Chityal mandal of the Nalgonda district. This incredible step taken by Maharashtra has truly influenced other regions of the country, and we couldn’t be happier about it. With Telangana following in their footsteps and joining in on the celebrations of Forest Day, one can only hope that this green revolution carries forward into neighbouring states, creating a cleaner and greener future for India.

Feature image courtesy of plantingpeace.org

Words: Karan Kaul