In rush to meet target, Palike plants 1 lakh saplings, forgets them

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has planted more than one lakh saplings in the city merely to meet a target, paying little attention to their maintenance and survival.

When DH visited a few areas in the city, saplings were seen planted in an unscientific manner on the roads, on dividers and a few had already withered for want of water and fertilisers.

The saplings on DVG Road in Basavanagudi, for instance, were planted on the edge of the road around 10-15 feet from each other, after digging holes in the asphalted surface. Since the road is narrow with dense traffic, the saplings are coated with dust and vehicluar emission.

Saplings like mango, neem, nelli (Syzygium Cumini), cherry and others were planted along K R Road, Cubbon Road, Bhagavan Mahaveer Road, Hebbal, Bagalagunte, Peenya and Dasarhalli

At Southend Circle, saplings which are planted by BBMP and entrusted to a private college for maintainenance under its corporate social responsibility(CSR), are neglected while the board bearing the name of the college appears more prominent.

However, BBMP's deputy conservator of forest Appurao says, "We had a target of planting one lakh saplings in the city for the year 2017, but we have planted 2,000 more saplings. We are tending to them with good care."

Meanwhile, BBMP blames companies for the poor maintenance. A   BBMP official says, "Most of the saplings planted by the BBMP are being maintained by companies under the CSR initiative. They are responsible for the maintenance."

Tree expert Vijay Nishanth told DH, "BBMP, after planting the saplings, should track their growth regularly, but it is only focusing on reaching the target, wasting taxpayers' money. Though maintenance is entrusted to companies under CSR, BBMP too is responsible for their upkeep."

Saplings planted in eight zones

South 12,500

West 11,500

East 12,500

Rajarajeswarinagar 15,000

Bomanahalli 15,000

Mahdevapura 12,500

Dasarahalli 8,000

Yelahanka 13,000