Bangalore

tree planting project

Bengaluru

BDA

Green Garland project

BDA Commissioner

Kempegowda Layout

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trees

If theDevelopment Authority’s (BDA) had gone ahead as planned with its much-hyped masswould have had many more lung spaces. But’s, which was announced in 2010-11, with a target of planting one crore saplings in three years, has failed to come close to this number even after nine years.Till date, the BDA has achieved only 28 per cent success in implementing this mega project. And this is because the funds promised for this project were not allegedly released in full.The project came about when the thenBharat Lal Meena wanted to plant saplings to make up for the greenery lost to developmental projects in and around the city. The government announced Rs 100 crore for this project but released only a few crores,’’ said a BDA official on the condition of anonymity.The BDA official said that planting of saplings had to take place on vacant government land or wherever vacant space was available, be it Outer Ring Road or layouts being developed by the BDA and other government agencies.“No funds were released for three years citing paucity of resources. No planting of saplings took place for another three years and we don’t know why. The previous BDA Commissioner, Rakesh Singh, had also not released funds for planting the saplings,’’ said the BDA official.The same official said that the BDA could not plant saplings atdue to the delay in laying the Cauvery water pipeline which passes through the middle of the road.“The BWSSB engineers are advising us not to go ahead with planting the saplings. They told us that the saplings will be damaged when digging begins to lay the water pipes. At other locations, we could plant saplings only on one side of the road since the other side is reserved for various utilities,’’ said the BDA official.Coming down heavily on the BDA’s forest department for not taking tree planting seriously, Dr A N Yellappa Reddy, an environmentalist, wanted to know the number of saplings which survived among the 28,000 saplings planted by the BDA.“The authorities announce projects and forget about them as soon as they are announced. They announced the project nine years ago and they have failed to meet the target,’’ said Dr Yellappa Reddy.Meanwhile, BDA Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Sadanandappa said that the BDA Commissioner has assured that he will allocate more funds to take up a tree planting programme. The BDA needs to spend Rs 600 to Rs 700 to plant a sapling (including cost of the sapling, tree guard, transportation cost and maintenance.)Sai Datta, a social activist, has emphasized that the BDA take up tree plantation at the layouts developed by it.“Saplings need a few years to grow into. I want the BDA to provide all basic amenities, including planting saplings, at all its layouts much before anyone approaches the court seeking a direction to the BDA,’’ said Sai Datta.The other hurdle, to allocate funds, says a source, is the delay in organizing the BDA board meeting. After S T Somasekhar quit as the BDA Chairman, no board meeting was held. According to reliable sources, the BDA board meeting has not been held since February 2019. Without the Board’s approval, no funds will be allocated for developmental works, said the source.However, BDA Commissioner Dr G C Prakash has said funds will be released for the development of parks and planting saplings at the layouts developed by the BDA.“Development of parks and planting saplings are being done at the layouts that are developed. We do not want to plant saplings without having manpower to look after the saplings,’’ said BDA Commissioner.