August 22, 2008 Hyderabad, Aug. 22: The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, on Friday stressed the need for improving the green cover, particularly in urban areas, as part of the overall objective of transforming the state into "Haritandhra Pradesh.' The Chief Minister planted saplings at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal and launched the ambitious programme of one lakh tree plantations in a day taken up by Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (Huda). Nearly 10,000 students from various schools along with members of voluntary organisations and welfare associations participated in the programme attended by mines minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and senior officials. The Chief Minister explained the importance of trees to the students stating they are essential for maintenance of ecological balance. Environmental protection is the responsibility of all citizens and planting more trees will help, he said. The urban forestry wing of Huda took up plantation of one lakh saplings in six locations in city outskirts. While 45,000 saplings were planted on the premises of Ordnance Factory in Sanga Reddy, 20,000 each in the Air Force Academy and vast spread of defence lands at Kowkoor and Shamirpet, another 15,000 were plated near Ibrahimpatnam.