GBA’s plantation drive draws 236 requests for over 43,000 saplings ahead of deadline
Ten days after Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda invited citizens to collaborate in a sapling plantation drive, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has
Ten days after Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda invited citizens to collaborate in a sapling plantation drive, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has received a whopping 236 requests for 43,409 saplings. GBA data accessed by The Hindu shows that citizens in the Bengaluru North City Corporation have requested 14,807 saplings. Around 5,285 saplings have been requested by citizens in the West Corporation, followed by 4,800 in the South Corporation, 4,067 in the East Corporation, and 885 in the Central Corporation.
In addition, citizens living outside the GBA limits have requested 13,565 saplings, the data shows. A senior GBA official said the response has been overwhelming and far exceeding their expectations. The target set by Mr. Gowda is to plant 64,000 saplings with the help of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). However, the number of saplings requested has already crossed 40,000, and the GBA has urged more citizens to participate. “We will wait until August 10, the deadline for submitting requests, and then make a decision on the saplings requested by residents outside the GBA limits.
Even the requests we have received will be reviewed, and site verification will be carried out to assess whether the conditions are conducive,” the official said. Gowda has also said that a tracking system will be introduced for every sapling planted during the current financial year. Details such as the location, number of trees planted, and geolocation will be recorded and made available on the websites of each corporation. The move is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability. All registered and unregistered RWAs have been invited to submit proposals if they have space to plant at least 30 saplings in their neighbourhoods, while ensuring a minimum distance of 12 feet between each tree.
Interested RWAs can visit the GBA website or write to dcfgba26@gmail.com to submit their proposals. Applications must be submitted by August 10, and the plantation drive will continue for a month.
The BriefWire