BMP to involve people in scheme to improve greenery in city

BMP to involve people in scheme to improve greenery in city

The Hindu

Incentives to be given for residents' associations adopting parks

# 'Fund banks' planned in every locality to maintain parks
# BMP to provide 75 per cent of the funds while the residents' associations have to chip in the rest
# Civic body to sell saplings to people at concessional rates and to give away medicinal plants free

Bangalore: The Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) is planning incentives for Residents' Welfare Associations (RWAS) to volunteer for adopting parks in the city.

"We want to involve residents in maintaining parks in their localities. This way, it will reduce our burden and increase community involvement," Deputy Conservator (Forests) Krishna D. Udupudi told The Hindu .

The BMP is planning to start "fund banks" in every locality to maintain parks.

The civic body would provide 75 per cent of the funds while the residents' associations need to chip in the rest.

"Normal day-to-day watering and upkeep of gardens will have to be managed by the residents' associations. We will help only when it is required," said Mr. Udupudi.

A couple of years ago, the BMP evolved a scheme through which private organisations could take care of nearly 300 green spaces within BMP limits.

While maintenance of traffic circles and medians found immediate volunteers in corporate houses, parks in residential areas had few takers.

Only 20 of the numerous parks within the BMP limits were adopted by residents' associations.

Now, with financial assistance, the BMP is hoping to rope in more residents' associations and reduce its involvement in the upkeep of parks by at least 60 per cent this year. "Ultimately, we want to give everything to the public," said Mr. Udupudi.

Saplings

The BMP has introduced a scheme through which people can buy saplings at concessional rates. Medicinal plants will be given away free.

"We have distributed about 60,000 saplings in parts of the city this year. We are selling them at a discount of 75 per cent," he said.

For distributing medicinal plants, the BMP is planning to deploy three mobile vans, which would go around the wards and give the plants to those interested.

"The mobile van will also have a board displaying the plants and their medicinal value," he added. A mobile van began touring areas in Bangalore West on Saturday. "The scheme will be taken up in a big way from Monday," he said.

The distribution of medicinal plants had received good response.

"We have already given away over 3,000 seedlings over the past two months. About 1,000 plants were given away to residents of Jogupalya and Banashankari 2nd stage," said Mr. Udupudi. The corporator at Mudalapalya has asked for 1,000 seedlings, he said.

Apart from these, the BMP had also undertaken large-scale planting of saplings on roadside, walkways, playgrounds, schools and hospitals, he added.