Hyderabad, June 23 (IANS): Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Tuesday requested President Pranab Mukherjee to launch "Telanganaku Haritaharam", a massive plantation programme on July 3 in the state's Nalgonda district.

In a letter to the president, KCR said his participation would add more significance to this programme that is slated to kick from Yadgirigutta next month and will enthuse all sections of the society to actively participate in it.

The chief minister said the Telangana government has taken up "Telanganaku Haritaharam" as one of the flagship programmes with an objective of improving green cover, maintain ecological balance and to ensure sustainable livelihoods.

As part of this programme, it is proposed to plant 230 crores saplings over three years, both within the reserve forest to improve forest density and outside the forest to promote greenery and also improve incomes for the farmers.

For the current year, 39.6 crores saplings have been raised, which are ready for plantation from first week of July, KCR wrote.