Khammam: Despite officials claiming that Khammam district was fast reaching its target of 3.5 crore plants under the Harita Haram programme, at least 10 lakh saplings have simply disappeared thanks to the scorching Sun and herbivores.
The intense heat over the past eight days has dried out lakhs of plants across twenty five mandals in the Agency areas.
The temperature even at night hovers above 33 degrees and there has been no rain in 32 mandals since August 5.
Mandals experiencing weak rain include Bonakal, Bayyaram, Kusumanchi, Konigerla, Khammam Urban and Rural, Kalluru, Tallada, Penuballi, Madhira, Dammapet, Julurpadu, Kamepalli, Mulakapalli, Vemsoor, Chinkani and Tirumalayapalem.
Additionally, the officials, who have been busy planting new saplings to fulfil targets, are failing to protect the plants from animals.
Interestingly, the topic of the disappearing saplings was first brought up by a caller during a ‘phone-in’ programme organised by Mayor D. Papalal of Khammam Municipal Corporation.
Caller K. Venkata Narasimha Rao, from Pillichinnathota, said saplings planted as part of the programme had been lost to animal grazing.
He asked the Mayor to plant saplings again and Mr Papalal said he would. The eating of saplings by animals is happening in Karepalli, Kamepalli, Bonakal, Wyra, Tallada, Julurupad, Gundala Tirumalayapalem, Konigerla, Nelakondapalli, Sattupalli, Kalluru, Chandrugonda, Mulakalapalli and Tekulapalli mandals.
“Definitely, there will be a loss of plants and we will look into the matter after completing the programme,” an official said.
The government has not allocated any funds for the protection of saplings.
