Krishna Byre Gowda targets ‘paper plantation’ in Bengaluru
As a mandatory exercise, the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) took up the planting of one lakh trees every year, with a budget earmarked
As a mandatory exercise, the erstwhile Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) took up the planting of one lakh trees every year, with a budget earmarked for the initiative. However, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said that the implementation has remained only on paper over the years. He said on Monday during a meeting with officials of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), “Every year, when the public questions the civic body, it says that it is planting trees in the city, but we cannot see them at all.” According to the tree census data, Bengaluru has over 20 lakh trees, many of which are age-old. “If the civic body is planting one lakh trees every year, then where have those trees gone?
There should have been lakhs of trees by now,” he argued. According to the Minister, the civic body has not been carrying out the exercise in full but has been showing on paper that it is being done, owing to a lack of accountability and improper documentation. “Tenders don’t happen on time or adequately, which means only a few saplings are planted every year while the records show that the works have been completed,” he said. Gowda directed that before any tree is felled for development works undertaken by the corporation, metro, or any other government department, the agency concerned must pay the Forest Department the cost of planting ten saplings for every tree that is removed.
According to GBA data available with The Hindu, 8,689 trees have been felled by the civic body over the last three financial years for development projects, while 86 have been felled in the last three months. In addition, 1,032 trees have been removed for other reasons. According to GBA officials, the recommendations of the Tree Expert Committee have been taken wherever necessary before felling, and compensatory plantation has been carried out. But Mr. Gowda said, “Citizens are unable to see where the trees are being planted.” He also acknowledged that poor-quality tree species have been planted in the past, which would be corrected this time, and that only high-quality saplings would be planted this year.
He said hardwood species would be prioritised. Following the massive uprooting of trees across the city during the recent rains, The Hindu had reported on the need for hardwood tree species in Bengaluru, highlighting that softwood species accounted for more than 95% of the uprooted trees. Gowda stressed that the tree plantation drive is essential for the survival and future of Bengaluru, as it helps regulate temperature and improve the Air Quality Index. The plantation drive must go beyond paperwork and be implemented in its true spirit, he said, adding that the civic body must take responsibility for nurturing the saplings.
The BriefWire