1 million saplings planted in one hour in Telangana to set a new world record

Green India Challenge was launched four years ago by Rajya Sabha MP J Santosh Kumar to increase the green cover in the state.

As part of the Green India Challenge, one million saplings were planted in one hour in Adilabad district in Telangana on Sunday that has set a new world record. More than 30,000 members of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and locals participated in the drive including founder of Green India Challenge and Rajya Sabha MP J Santosh Kumar and state forest and environment minister A Indra Karan Reddy. The plantation challenge might be registered in Guinness Book World Records as it broke the past record of planting 3.03 lakh saplings that was set by Turkey in 2019. Of 10 lakh, five lakh saplings were planted in the degenerated forest area spread over 200 acres in Durganagar using the Miyawaki model, two lakh in Adilabad rural Bela mandal, 1,80,000 saplings in 45 houses in the urban region and the rest 1,20,000 saplings were planted by volunteers on either side of R&B road, reported TOI. According to the Miyawaki model, two to four trees are planted per square metre. Such forests reportedly grow in two to three years and are said to be self-sustaining. They help in reducing air and noise pollution, lower temperatures in concrete heat islands, attract local birds and insects, and create carbon sinks. The event was organised by dividing the region into ten sectors. Appreciation certificates were handed over to the organisers by the representatives of Wonder Book of Records. Green India Challenge was launched four years ago to increase the green cover in the state.