Telangana Forest Department to create Harithavanam

HYDERABAD: Inspired by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority’s (HMDA) development of urban reserve forest blocks on the outskirts of the city, the Telangana Forest Department is considering “Harithavanam” — creating similar forest blocks across the state, under the Employment Guarantee Scheme.

In this regard, 115 special officers of Telangana Forest Department will visit urban forest blocks on December 21 and 23, to evaluate various models adopted by the HMDA in terms of greenery and tree cultivation, among other things.

They will go to Jalalpur urban park in Yadadri, which is 742 acres and has 1,13,400 tree plantations, as well as Bibinagar urban park, which is 256 acres and has 1,62,600 tree plantations.

HMDA has created 16 urban reserve forest blocks, including eight in Rangareddy, three in Yadadri and Medak, and one each in Medchal and Sangareddy. Forest blocks have been constructed on 14,708 acres of land, so far.