Residents undertake green drive at Vijinapura lake

In an attempt to increase the green cover and help Bengaluru retain the tag of ‘Garden City’, at least 150 saplings of different species were planted in and around Vijinapura lake in Ramamurthy Nagar on Sunday.

People from different walks of life came together as a part of a noble initiative organised by Greenvein, a pan-India environment conservation organisation in association with All India Malayali Association (AIMA) and employees of CSG International. Jamun, neem, cherry, blueberry saplings, among others were planted.

Secretary of AIMA, Vinu Thomas, said they aim to plant one lakh saplings in the city out of which 2,000 saplings have already been planted in the past three years. “We have covered Hosur Road near Christ College, TC Palya, KR Puram General Hospital, among other places. This is the best time to plant saplings as the monsoon has just set in and the programme was held to commemorate the World Environment Day,” he added. 

The organisers, encouraged by the response from the public and villagers, now plan to hold similar planting drives at the Seegehalli and KR Puram lakes. “The three-acre Vijinapura lake is in a bad shape with encroachments and improper maintenance. The lake is deserted with limited green space. Hence, we had approached the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for starting a plantation drive. Also, garbage is dumped in the lake surroundings turning the place into an eyesore,” said Aby John from AIMA.  The local residents of Ramamurthy Nagar appealed the organisers to hold planting activities at the neighbouring Kowdenahalli lake.