Khammam, August 24, 2026: Telangana Minister for Forests, Environment and Endowments Konda Surekha has directed District Collectors and District Forest Officers (DFOs) to conduct a large-scale special Vanamahotsavam plantation drive across the state on August 25 and create greater public awareness about greenery and environmental protection.

The Minister held a video conference with Collectors and DFOs of all districts on Monday to review the progress of the Vanamahotsavam programme. Khammam District Collector Divakara T.S. and DFO Anuj Aggarwal participated in the meeting from the Khammam Collectorate.

Minister Konda Surekha said the state has set a target of planting 16.06 crore saplings under this year’s Vanamahotsavam programme, of which 9.06 crore saplings have been planted so far. She directed officials to focus particularly on districts and areas where progress remains low and complete the targets at the earliest.

She noted that only 9 per cent of the target has been completed in Medchal district, while HMDA, Suryapet, three Greater Municipal Corporations and the Sangareddy region have achieved less than 50 per cent of their respective targets. The Minister instructed officials to prepare special action plans for these areas and accelerate plantation activities.

The Minister stressed that the programme should focus not only on planting saplings but also on their long-term protection and survival. She directed officials to ensure a high survival rate, replace saplings that die immediately, geo-tag every plantation and monitor the condition of the plants on a daily basis.

Considering the recent rainfall and the possibility of further rains in the coming days, the Minister asked officials to make full use of the favourable weather conditions and undertake plantation on a large scale. She directed Collectors to prepare action plans to ensure that all targets are completed by the end of September.

As part of the special drive on August 25, mass plantation programmes will be conducted across mandals, villages and urban areas in all districts. Clear targets should be assigned to each area, with the participation of public representatives, Anganwadi staff, self-help group women, NSS and NCC students, youth and the general public.

The Minister also directed officials to personally invite MLAs, MLCs, Ministers and other public representatives to participate in the programmes. She called for identifying vacant land in forest areas for plantation and promoting urban forestry wherever possible in cities and towns. Plantation drives should also be taken up in temple premises, schools, government offices and other government institutions in a planned manner.

Officials were instructed to ensure adequate water facilities in block plantation areas, transport the required saplings on time and plant only quality saplings. The Minister also called for extensive publicity for Vanamahotsavam and urged officials to involve the media in the campaign.

Khammam District Completes 67% of Plantation Target

Khammam District Collector Divakara T.S. said the district has been assigned a target of planting 31.30 lakh saplings, of which around 20.90 lakh saplings have already been planted, achieving 67 per cent of the target.

Following the Minister’s directions, a major plantation drive is being organised across the district on Tuesday. More than 2 lakh pits have already been prepared, and the district has set a target of planting 1 lakh saplings in a single day on August 25. The Agriculture Minister is scheduled to participate in the plantation programme in Khammam.

Special plantation programmes are also being organised at mandal and village levels, with school students, NSS and NCC volunteers, Anganwadi staff and women from self-help groups being encouraged to participate.

Later, the District Collector directed officials to ensure that the target of planting 1 lakh saplings on Tuesday is achieved without fail. He instructed the DFO to assign clear mandal-wise targets and conduct the programme with proper advance planning. Officials were also directed to complete all arrangements in advance and ensure participation from all sections of society.

Additional DRDO B. Sireesha, concerned officials and others participated in the video conference.