About one million saplings were planted in an hour as part of the Green India Challenge in Telangana on Sunday, setting a new record for the largest such plantation drive anywhere in the world. The event led by Telangana Rashtra Samiti Rajya Sabha MP J Santosh Kumar in Adilabad is expected to enter Guinness Book World Records. The earlier record of 303,000 saplings was registered in Turkey in 2019. Over 30,000 TRS members, as well as locals, participated in the drive along with Telangana's forest and environment minister A Indra Karan Reddy, who also marked his birthday with the mammoth plantation event. At least 500,000 saplings were planted using the Miyawaki model in the degenerated forest area spread over 200 acres.
Karnataka further eases Covid restrictions
In the wake of Karnataka registering more number of recoveries, the state government announced further relaxations in Covid-19-related restrictions allowing certain activities, including re-opening of religious places and conducting of weddings. The relaxations would be in place for the next 15 days from July 6, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said after chairing a meeting with his Cabinet colleagues and senior officials. "Shops, restaurants, malls, and private offices have to enforce Covid-appropriate behaviour failing which action will be initiated under the Disaster Management Act, 2005," Yediyurappa said. Educational institutions, tutorials and colleges would remain shut until further orders, he said. Night curfew would continue to be in force from 9 PM to 5 AM the next day, he said.
