Can you believe the value of a single tree assessed over a period of 50 years, is worth Rs 11.20 lakhs? This vital piece of information is being propagated in the City by a  father–son duo who are simultaneously waging a quiet battle with the BBMP to do so.
A chart to this effect (see box) was found imprinted on a vinyl board in the chamber of Deputy Conservator of Forests Krishna Udapudi. And the person who has taken pains to prepare this board is T M Somnath Joshi, a PU student of Cathedral College.
This youth, with a commitment towards eco preservation, has readied 20 such boards and placed them at venues where there is much public movement so that the message reaches  many people. Spot them at public offices, bus stands, court complexes and hotels.
Says  Somnath, “My brother, Vinod a software engineer, got this information from a website eight years ago. I was preparing for a school essay when I was doing my Std 7th at RB School.” 
Excited about this information,  he wanted to spread it to many others. With the financial support and guidance from his advocate father, T Narasimha Murthy, he prepared 100 such cardboards and placed  them all over the City. Unfortunately, the rains washed them away. The Corporation authorities too pulled the boards wherever they saw them.
For the last two years, Somnath has been creating vinyl boards. One such board costs Rs 100 and he has spent Rs  2,000 on this  just to creating an awareness among the masses. He now instals them only in big offices. His venture has evoked tremendous admiration from the public and officials. The Registrar General at the court has given him a commendation certificate, the Lok Ayukta and the postal authorities have praised him. The vinyl board installed at Adigas, near Manipal Towers, which carried his phone number 25306879, got him many calls with a few volunteering to help him.
And what did the Corporation do? It pulled down two such boards he had installed at Jayanagar recently. He had personal meetings with top authorities to restore those boards and hopes for good news. Isn’t it time the BBMP commended this lad and supported him in his venture instead of stalling his genuine efforts?
TREE FACTS
A single tree gives benefits worth
over Rs 11.20 lakh  over a  period of 50 years.
* Production of oxygen   - Rs 2.5 lakhs
* Control of soil erosion  - Rs 2.5 lakhs
* Recycling water/control humidity  - Rs 3 lakhs
* Shelter to birds,animals and plants  - Rs 2.5 lakhs
* Control air pollution        - Rs 5 lakh
   Total                             - Rs 11.20 lakhs
So, plant more trees.