“Expecting clean air without planting trees is unfair,” the CM says. “Planting trees is our duty; cutting them down is a crime.”

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious green initiative with a target to increase the state’s green cover to 50 per cent by 2047. Speaking at the World Environment Day celebrations in Ananthavaram, the Chief Minister underscored environmental protection as a collective responsibility and flagged off a mission to plant one crore saplings in a single day.

Addressing the Vanamahotsavam event, Naidu said Andhra Pradesh currently has a green cover of 30.05 per cent, including forest and non-forest areas. The forest area stands at 37,421 sq. km, which is 23 per cent of the state’s geographical area.

“It is a matter of great pride to launch the initiative to plant one crore saplings in a single day,” said Naidu. “Our goal is to take Andhra Pradesh’s green cover to 37 per cent by 2029 and reach 50 per cent by 2047. We must become a national role model in environmental conservation.”

The state government also launched a slew of initiatives aimed at long-term environmental sustainability, including plans to develop urban forests in all 175 Assembly constituencies and eliminate single-use plastic across the state by June 5, 2026.

Environmental Crisis And Government Action
Linking the afforestation goals to broader environmental challenges, Naidu highlighted the threats posed by climate change, declining rainfall, groundwater depletion, and fluorosis.

“Expecting clean air without planting trees is unfair,” the CM said. “Planting trees is our duty; cutting them down is a crime.”

Naidu planted saplings alongside Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan in ADC Park, Amaravati, and reviewed pollution control displays set up at the venue. He added that unlike previous regimes, which he criticised for “photo-op tree plantations,” his government was committed to systemic and measurable green development.

Notably, among the new campaigns is the ‘Seed Rakhi’ initiative, aimed at involving girls and young women in environmental conservation. Participants are encouraged to tie seed-based rakhis linked to their siblings’ birth stars.

The CM also reaffirmed the state’s plan to ban single-use plastics in all 17 municipal corporations by October 2 this year, extending the ban to the entire state by next year’s Environment Day.

On solid waste management, Naidu said 157 Reduce-Reuse-Recycle (RRR) centres have been established in 87 municipalities, with further composting units coming up in rural areas. The state has also begun producing energy from 90 per cent of its dry urban waste, with waste-to-energy plants operating in Guntur and Visakhapatnam.

Reiterating his vision of transforming Amaravati into a “green capital”, Naidu said the city would see Miyawaki-style afforestation and international-standard gardens. “We are moving from destruction to rebuilding the state,” he said.

He also announced that households from scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities would receive free 2 KW rooftop solar panels as part of the state’s push towards becoming a leader in renewable energy.