Deficit rainfall poses challenge to Telangana’s plantation drive

Telangana’s annual Vanamahotsavam plantation drive has slowed down, with only 16.62 per cent of the target achieved more than a month after its launch. Deficient rainfall has raised concerns over sapling survival, even as plantation targets have been reduced year-on-year due to limited land availability.

Hyderabad: More than a month after the State launched its annual Vanamahotsavam plantation drive, the programme is yet to gather momentum. Deficit rainfall this season has raised concerns over its effective implementation and the survival of newly planted saplings.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy launched the annual plantation programme on June 18 at Gurramguda Eco Park. However, the drive has progressed slowly.

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As of July 20, only 147.42 lakh saplings had been planted against the annual target of 16.06 crore, achieving 16.62 percent of the overall target. Among the districts, Mulugu recorded the highest progress at 44.63 percent, while Medchal Malkajgiri remained at the bottom with just 0.58 percent.

With rainfall remaining below normal across the State, questions are being raised over the implementation of the plantation drive and its long-term impact. At the same time, plantation targets have steadily declined over the past three years, with officials attributing the reduction to the limited availability of land.

The Forest Department reduced the plantation target from 20.02 crore saplings in 2024 to 18.02 crore in 2025, and further to 16.06 crore this year.

Although the government says several departments are actively participating in the drive, concerns remain over the level of participation and the effectiveness of implementation.

Officials estimate that around 20 percent of the saplings planted every year fail to survive because of factors such as road widening, infrastructure projects, inadequate maintenance and insufficient watering.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Vinay Kumar has directed officials to speed up the plantation drive to achieve the assigned targets within the stipulated timeframe.

During a video conference with District Forest Officers on Thursday, he stressed that equal importance should be given to the survival of planted saplings through regular watering, maintenance and monitoring.

He also instructed officials to prepare contingency plans in view of El Nino conditions. Anticipating below-normal rainfall, he directed them to ensure adequate water sources in forest areas and take measures to prevent water scarcity for wildlife.

Vinay Kumar asked officials to create artificial water holes wherever required, restore existing water sources and ensure a continuous water supply to them.