Hyderabad: Principal chief conservator of forests P.K. Sharma said that about nine crore tree saplings have been planted across the state.
This is 31 crore less than the target for this year. As rains were not sufficient enough, trees could not be planted during the southwest monsoon. However, the forest department has raised nearly 40 crore saplings for planting as part of TKHH this year.
Mr Sharma said, “By the end of this year, may be two to three crore more saplings will be planted. The remaining nearly 29 crore saplings will be in the nurseries until they are planted again next year. We have planned some strategies to ensure that they do not overgrow in nurseries till next year, so that it becomes difficult to move them and they are wasted.”
The main strategies are moving and pruning. The nearly 30 crore saplings growing in 4,000 nurseries across the state will not be kept in the same spot until they are planted and their position in the nursery will constantly be shifted.
“If the saplings are kept at the same spot and water is given regularly, they will grow very tall by next year. Their spots will be shifted and the frequency of watering will also be reduced,” Mr Sharma added.
The roots and shoots of the saplings will be pruned so that they do not grow too big. Mr Sharma said that 10 crore seedlings will be grown in nursery beds for next year’s TKHH plantings.
