Director-General of Police R.P. Thakur has said that the police department is poised to plant at least 10 lakh saplings across the State as part of the government’s Vanam Manam programme. Mr. Thakur, along with Principal Chief Conservator of Forest S. Mohammed Ilyas Rizvi and other senior police officials, planted saplings at the sixth AP Special Police battalion at Mangalagiri on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Thakur said that every police constable and home guard in the state would plant at least 10 saplings and every police officer will plant at least 25 saplings. “The target is to plant 10 lakh saplings, and first priority would be police stations and all premises belonging to the police department. Later, other government lands that require greenery would be chosen to plant saplings. Apart from planting, the department will also follow measures to ensure the survival of at least 80 per cent saplings,” Mr. Thakur said. Mr. Thakur said that the progress of the plantations will be reviewed once in three months and asked the Technical Services team to come up with a dashboard to monitor the same. Vegetation mowed? Ironically, the officials at the battalion mowed down vegetation, including trees in a large area, to pave the way for the venue for the ‘Vanam Manam’ plantation. At the designated venue which apparently is part of the battalion's forest about 30 saplings were planted by officers. Even as the officers carefully planted the saplings and watered them, what was overlooked at the venue is tens of freshly uprooted trees lying in the background and nearby areas. The battalion officials also mowed grass on both sides of the road to an extent to make the premises even for the DGP’s visit.

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