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Green drive faces sapling shortage

However, looking at the availability of saplings with GHMC it seems difficult to meet the target
Hyderabad: The GHMC is facing a shortage of saplings as part of Telanganaku Haritha Haaram. The GHMC had set a target of planting two crore saplings in the city as part of the afforestation programme with a 50-lakh target for this year.
However, looking at the availability of saplings with GHMC it seems difficult to meet the target. According to sources, the GHMC had decided to procure saplings taller than three feet height from other states, a majority from Kadiam in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, a few from Rayalaseema districts and some from Karnataka.
As of now, it has managed to procure just about two lakh saplings, apart from one lakh saplings of the desired height that it has at its own nurseries. The reason being given for the shortage of saplings is that the AP government, which is running its own afforestation programme called Neeru-Chettu, offered to buy each sapling for Rs 35 against Rs 33 offered by the GHMC.
This has resulted in AP nursery owners selling the saplings to the AP government. The shortage of saplings with the GHMC has also hit TKHH participation of state departments and resident welfare associations located in Hyderabad, as GHMC does not have enough saplings to distribute. The forest department says it is not responsible for distributing saplings in the GHMC limits. The GHMC has also delayed the launch of the scheme.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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