Hyderabad, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao launched the sixth phase of 'Haritha Haram', billed as one of the world's largest plantation drive, by planting saplings at eco-park at Narsapur in Medak district on Thursday.

He also formally opened the urban forest, developed over 630 acres as part of the rejuvenation of Narsapur forest. Forest Minister A. Indrakaran Reddy, Finance Minister T. Harish Rao and senior officials attended the programme.

The Forest Minister said about 30 crore saplings would be planted during the sixth phase of Haritha Haram. The Medak district administration is planning to plant 50 lakh saplings.

Increasing the green cover to 33 per cent and achieving green Telangana are the objectives of Haritha Haram, started in 2015.

During the drive, forest, panchayati raj and rural development, municipal administration and other departments plant saplings across the state every year.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, has asked officials to adopt the Yadadri model, which was based on the Miyawaki method of growing thick forests.

He asked them to set up plant nursery at every 30 km on all state and national highways and continue the plantation programme on their sides.

Municipal Administration Minister K.T. Rama Rao launched the sixth phase of Haritha Haram in Hyderabad. As part of the programme, the government had developed urban lung spaces across the state, he said.