AP aims to increase its green cover to 50 per cent by 2029: CM Naidu

Speaking at the function of the two-day Regional Conference on Environment organised by National Green Tribunal (NGT), Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board and Telangana State Pollution Control Board, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu advocating the use of renewable energy stated that there is an urgent need to increase the green cover in cities and towns for sustainable development and  his government has set a target to increase the green cover to 50 per cent by 2029..

“At present the green cover in Andhra Pradesh is 23 per cent. We plan to increase the green cover to 50 per cent by the year 2029,” said Naidu. Further, highlighting the need of organic farming for minimum usage of fertilizers and chemicals, Naidu said nearly five lakh farmers in the state would shift to organic farming.

He also stated that the state will be 100 per cent open defecation free (ODF) by 2018. “All most all the municipalities in the state have achieved the 100 per cent ODF status and about 4,000 villages have got the 100 per cent ODF certification and our vision is achieve 100 per cent across the state by 2018,” he said.

The AP government has planned to produce around 66 MW from 4,500 tonnes of waste per day by setting up 10 Waste-to-Energy plants for effective solid waste management in the state.