JOIN USThe Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has sought information from various government agencies on the condition of the trees and saplings planted in and around the City.
The action comes in the wake of the tree survey and analysis report submitted by the Centre for Ecological Sciences Department, Indian Institute of Science.
According to the report, the City has one tree for every seven people against the ideal ratio of one tree for one individual. It stated that the City with a population of 95 lakh, has 14.58 lakh trees.
Increase green cover
The KSPCB, in its efforts to increase green cover, has sought information on trees from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Bangalore Development Authority, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation, Forest and Transport departments, principal chief conservator of forests and deputy commissioners.
KSPCB chairperson Vaman Acharya told Deccan Herald that they have asked the officials to give an account of the number of existing trees.
“We have also learnt that no saplings was planted over the years, but many trees were uprooted for development. It is mandatory to plant at least three saplings for every tree uprooted. We also want to know how many saplings were planted, where and what is their status. This is important if noise and air pollution have to be reduced in the City,” he said.
T V Ramachandra, Department of Energy and Wetland Research Group, CES, IISc, who headed the study, said the study showed that the worst ward in Bangalore was Gandhinagar in terms of tree status.