BDA tree reserves to give City green cover

BDA tree reserves to give City green cover
Vijay Times

Bangalore: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), in a major initiative to increase the green cover in the City , will introduce the concept of tree reserves in all City layouts, beginning from June.

The matter has received great urgency with several trees being uprooted in the recent rains accompanied by heavy winds. The BDA has planned ’sacred groves’ or ’tree reserves’ (gunda thopu in Kannada), wherein, traditional native species will be grown in those areas reserved for gardens in the layouts, instead of roadsides. Besides, lawns and jogging tracks will round off these reserves, BDA Commissioner M K Shankarlingegowda told Vijay Times.

"All we have to do is fence the area and plant the trees. The City receives sufficient rainfall every year for water requrement of the trees," he said.

This concept will be introduced in newly formed layouts such as HSR Layout, Vishvesvaraya Layout and Arkavathi Layout to protect lung spaces from being encroached upon or being misused.

"The old, park-type concept does not function as lung space effectively . But traditional tree parks will not only act as oxygen banks but will be strong, safe and can be managed without much expense," he said. Later , the programme will be expanded to other layouts, he added.

A forest department official, on deputation to the BDA, will discuss the plans with local residents, who will manage these parks ultimately , said Shankarlingegowda.

BDA has also listed the species to be planted. They are pongamia pinnata (honge), michelia champaka (sampige), ficus racemosa (figs), ficus religiosa and saraka asoka, as well as other traditional species which provide good shade.

Private layouts: Shankarlingegowda said that the ’tree reserves’ concept may also be extended to private layouts. "W e will make it compulsory because we need to develop more green space for the City . Only lawns will not be enough," he said.