Green canopy for Anjanapura

Green canopy for Anjanapura

The Hindu

About 5,000 saplings planted along every lane and bylane

# BMRCL is planting 10 saplings for every tree to be cut
# Each sapling is being given a firm tree guard

BANGALORE: Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) Anjanapura Layout is all set to get tree avenues. Those going to live here would owe a great deal to two government agencies — the BDA and Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL).

In a year or two, saplings would grow tall and cover the vast expanse of the open layout with a considerable measure of greenery. About 5,000 saplings have been planted along every lane and bylane here.

The BMRCL, which will have to chop 1,500 trees while constructing the 33-km metro rail network, is planting 10 saplings for every tree to be cut.

Going by the way the saplings are being taken care of in Anjanapura, the promise that the layout will have 5,000 trees seems real. Every sapling is given a firm tree guard and dead trees are being replaced.

The BDA has planted saplings on behalf of BMRCL. The BMRCL has paid Rs. 13.76 lakh for the maintenance of trees for the first year.

Three-year pact

The two have entered into a three-year understanding. The BMRCL has planted 15,000 saplings at 16 places in different parts of the city and on its outskirts. Anjanapura is the single biggest area to benefit from this drive.

Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has planted 3,000 saplings in OMBR Layout and surrounding areas such as Bhuvanagirinagar and Kalyananagar.

The Forest Department has planted 7,000 saplings in areas such as Singapura Layout, Tanisandra BDA Layout, Bhavaninagar, Banashankari 6th Phase 5th Block and Sadaramangala Layout near Whitefield (1,000 each). There is a marked difference in the way the BMP and BDA have maintained the plants.

While many of the BMP's saplings and tree guards are missing, those planted by BDA in Anjanapura are intact.

One apparent reason is that the BMP's plants are in thickly populated areas and those planted by BDA are in a totally deserted area.

BMRCL sources said that the BMP had been asked to honour the condition that it was responsible for maintaining, watering, replacing and replenishing the saplings for three years. Letters have been sent to the BMP in this regard, they said.

Tree guards

The tree guards provided by the BMP are made of bamboo pieces, while those provided by the BDA and the Forest Department are made of thick logs and covered with nets.

The BMRCL has paid Rs. 8.10 lakh to the BMP and Rs. 19.42 lakh to the Forest Department.