Step into the premises of the office of the Superintendent of Police, and you are greeted by greenery all around.

Administrative Officer Venkateshappa, who has planted various plants and trees in the premises, is now growing orphan plants with the use of plastic water bottles and polythene bags that are thrown on the streets.

Novel Method

He has even ‘adopted’ many common trees bearing guava, lime and, jamun and other fruits, nourishing them with this novel method.

During office hours, Venkateshappa discharges his official duties; outside of them, he looks after more than 500 roadside plants, which had earlier been neglected.

In the town of Kolar, it is a tough task to strike water even after digging 500 to 1000 feet. In such a situation, Venkateshappa nurtures saplings and plants planted over an area of nearly one acre - with the help of ‘bottle’ irrigation!

The bottle irrigation procedure is simple - water that is drained, drop by drop, is used to nurture these plants.

Once the bottle is filled, it takes about four days to get empties.

The water - which is drained out of these bottles - reaches the plant in the necessary doses. This method is successfully used in regions which do not receive enough rain; it will suffice to fill the bottles with water only during summer and on days when there is no rain.

The popular drip irrigation method is expensive; instead, this method of bottle irrigation can be implemented at little or no cost, with good results.

In the drip irrigation method as water is supplied from top - so the roots grow upwards, and the water may not flow down till the root. In the bottle method as the water is supplied below the surface of the ground, the roots will get sufficient water,  and also grow downwards.

The roots of the plant grow downwards, so the possibility of water being wasted does not arise. There is also no need to use electricity and other facilities.