‘Haritha Nidhi came at right time’
Hyderabad: The setting up of Haritha Nidhi, which will exclusively support Telangana ku Haritha Haram, is taking the State’s greenery movement to a new level, feel experts.
Experienced officers, who have seen Haritha Haram since its commencement six years ago and how it went on to become a model for other States and even win praise from global quarters, feel that Haritha Nidhi was a natural step once Haritha Haram evolved into a concept in the minds of the people that trees were beneficial and necessary. This was just the right time for such a fund.
Kazipeta Purushotham, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Retd), said “Haritha Nidhi is necessary to make everyone feel involved in the protection of environment.”
“Trees and biodiversity are for everyone, and in that sense, Haritha Nidhi will be more like a Green Tax, helping people get connected to the Haritha Haram movement as well. I feel it has to be monitored at all levels, at all times, audited and transparent with a mechanism, apart from strict and foolproof rules and regulations,” he said.
Suggestions from Purushotham included the appointment of an environmental advisor/officer, preferably a botany professor, right from mandal to district level, and maybe an environmental scientist at the State level. These officers are to advise, check maintenance and ensure that the plants are taken care of in the right way.
“The Green Fund should also be used to procure Green Ambulances for each mandal headquarters, which apart from reaching to help those planting saplings, can also help in periodical trimming and treatment of plants and trees,” he said, recommending tissue culture labs as well at the district level, exclusively for Haritha Haram, so that native species can be multiplied effortlessly.
“Haritha Nidhi should also be used to provide subsidies for eco-friendly living, including solar power initiatives. We should also go for tall plants, by procuring three-metre high native species, like mango or tamarind, which will give financial returns as well,” he said, adding that the funds can also be used to give Haritha Ratna cash awards from the mandal to State levels, apart from paying for water tankers to support Haritha Haram during summers.
Mohan Chandra Pargaein, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said Haritha Nidhi was introduced just at the right time.
“In my opinion, the creation of Green Fund is a great idea whose time has come. It will not only ensure society’s participation in general, but also ensure availability of fund for creating and maintaining greenery all around us,” he said.
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