BBMP spends Rs 1,300 per sapling, planted 97,000 saplings of targeted 1 lakh

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has planned to plant one lakh saplings in the city as part of a greening drive and planting is already on. While the drive may be welcome, questions are being raised about the crores of rupees that the civic body is spending  on planting lakhs of trees.

The BBMP aims to plant one lakh saplings every year and it is spending Rs 10 crore to plant one lakh trees. Already, 97,000 saplings have been planted in the city and 3,000 saplings are yet to be planted.

It is said that the Palike is spending Rs 1,300 on each sapling, including the bamboo tree guards, but questions are being raised about the  price the BBMP is paying. Poor quality bamboo tree guards are being used and wires are not being tied properly. The tree guards have come open due to poor quality and only the sapling remains in Koramangala.

The BBMP earlier installed iron tree guards to protect the saplings, but now is using wooden sticks. The Rs 1,300 being paid for  each sapling also includes maintenance, but the plants are already withering without maintenance, and the Palike is just looting money in the name of environmental protection, citizens have alleged.

They said that the government should keep close watch not only on road construction, but also such plantation work, in order to prevent irregularities. The government should take action against the shoddy work of the BBMP, they have demanded.