JOIN USAfter having set up three vertical gardens over the pillars of the Yeswanthpur flyover, the first of its kind in the country, the BBMP had turned its back on the initiative.
The piece of greenery, developed to absorb pollution, has been reduced to a few dry stems with a hint of fuel dust on them, thanks to an almost total neglect of the authorities.
BBMP authorities were quick to point out that they had handed over the maintenance of the vertical garden to a private hospital under its Corporate Social Responsibility scheme.
"The garden needed daily watering, pruning and had to be kept free of pests," T Hanumanth Naik, BBMP, superintendent of horticulture, said.
While the gardens on the Yeswanthpur flyover were reduced to dust, a similar piece of greenery across the town on the Electronics City flyover is flourishing due to the efforts of NGO Say Tree, which has created and maintained the garden since March 2017.
"The lower part of the garden is susceptible to damage due to exhaust fumes from heavy vehicles like trucks," said Durgesh Agrahari, Say Tree, head of partnerships and projects. "It's important to replace plants frequently to keep the garden fresh."
Talking about the crumbling of the gardens at the Yeswanthpur flyover, Agrahari said maintaining a robust irrigation system is vital to keep the saplings alive.