<p>A mini forest will come up on a barren piece of a land around Allalasandra Lake in the city. Close to 500 residents of Judicial Layout, Yelahanka, joined hands on Sunday to plant more than 200 saplings around the lake to give it a facelift. They hope to see a mini forest around the lake in a few years. Coordinator of the group Karthik Gururaj told Deccan Herald that they will also plant saplings along the divider in their area. <br /><br /></p>.<p>What started off as a small plan to observe the World Environment Day materialised into a bigger plan. Lavanya D, a member of the Clean Up Warriors group, said their group, along with the Citizens Forum, has taken up the initiative. “We approached the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). They were keen on the idea and helped us take it forward,” she added. <br /><br />The residents said corporator Sathish M and MLA S R Vishwanath took interest and helped them. The Forest Department provided saplings for the plantation drive free of cost. Besides this, Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra (GKVK) also donated 100 Neem saplings to the citizens free of cost. <br /><br />Lavanya added, “The Forest Department also gave us labourers to dig pits for our plantation drive. Hundreds of saplings were planted on Sunday on the occasion of World Environment Day.” <br /><br />She said the residents will take care of the plants. During the dry spell, the BBMP will be water. Padmanabha Arkalgud, a senior citizen, said this is the second step taken by the residents after the lake’s rejuvenation. “There were makeshift houses and encroachments around the lakes earlier. They are all cleared now,” he added. <br /><br />The saplings were planted along the periphery of the lake. “We wanted something that would help support the local biodiversity. They suggested that we could have something that helps the migratory birds,” Lavanya said. <br /><br />Nerale Mara (Jamun), Honge (Avenue tree) and Neem were among the saplings planted.<br />DH News Service</p>
<p>A mini forest will come up on a barren piece of a land around Allalasandra Lake in the city. Close to 500 residents of Judicial Layout, Yelahanka, joined hands on Sunday to plant more than 200 saplings around the lake to give it a facelift. They hope to see a mini forest around the lake in a few years. Coordinator of the group Karthik Gururaj told Deccan Herald that they will also plant saplings along the divider in their area. <br /><br /></p>.<p>What started off as a small plan to observe the World Environment Day materialised into a bigger plan. Lavanya D, a member of the Clean Up Warriors group, said their group, along with the Citizens Forum, has taken up the initiative. “We approached the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). They were keen on the idea and helped us take it forward,” she added. <br /><br />The residents said corporator Sathish M and MLA S R Vishwanath took interest and helped them. The Forest Department provided saplings for the plantation drive free of cost. Besides this, Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra (GKVK) also donated 100 Neem saplings to the citizens free of cost. <br /><br />Lavanya added, “The Forest Department also gave us labourers to dig pits for our plantation drive. Hundreds of saplings were planted on Sunday on the occasion of World Environment Day.” <br /><br />She said the residents will take care of the plants. During the dry spell, the BBMP will be water. Padmanabha Arkalgud, a senior citizen, said this is the second step taken by the residents after the lake’s rejuvenation. “There were makeshift houses and encroachments around the lakes earlier. They are all cleared now,” he added. <br /><br />The saplings were planted along the periphery of the lake. “We wanted something that would help support the local biodiversity. They suggested that we could have something that helps the migratory birds,” Lavanya said. <br /><br />Nerale Mara (Jamun), Honge (Avenue tree) and Neem were among the saplings planted.<br />DH News Service</p>
