VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has called on everyone to plant at least two saplings annually and ensure their growth to foster a greener environment.
Speaking at the Vana Mahotsavam event held at Mangalagiri Ecopark on Friday, Naidu was joined by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar, and other dignitaries. Naidu emphasized the critical role of trees in maintaining ecological balance.
He advocated for raising Andhra Pradesh’s green cover to 50%, a goal that Pawan Kalyan also supports. The Chief Minister stressed the importance of the Forest and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) departments, which are overseen by Pawan Kalyan, and proposed initiating additional projects in collaboration with these departments. He also revealed plans to establish ‘Nagara Vanams’ (urban forests) in every Assembly constituency.
Naidu criticized the previous YSRC government for environmental damage, including the destruction of rivers, tanks, and hills such as Ravvalkonda. 
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, who spoke at the event, endorsed the Miyawaki method for expanding forests cost-effectively. He expressed his dedication to environmental conservation and his commitment to a large-scale initiative of planting 1 crore saplings across the state. He criticized the YSRC for removing trees and urged citizens to contribute to increasing the state’s green cover from 29% to 50%.