BBMP's drive to widen lung space in City

BBMP's drive to widen lung space in City
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahangara Palike (BBMP) has taken up a drive to widen the lung space of Bangalore City by planting over 2 lakh seedlings this year.


The campaign will begin on June 5, the day observed as World Environment Day.

The Palike has raised the required number of seedlings at its nurseries located in Yelahanka, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bommanahalli and JP Park in Mattikere.

A special committee headed by Special Commissioner (Projects) K R Srinivas has been constituted to implement the programme effectively. Zonal-level committees headed by joint commissioner have been formed to look after the campaign in the zonal limits. The Palike Commissioner Dr S Subramanya on Saturday held a meeting with officers of Horticulture Department and also the representatives of non governmental organisations interested to take part in the campaign.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (BBMP) S Shekhar said that many NGOs, private firms such as Tata Consultancy, Oracle, have shown interest to take part in the campaign. They have submitted requisition for seedlings to plant in public spaces. The Palike has raised seedlings of pongemia, tabubias, lagerstromias, ranjals, mahagony, sampige, neem and bauhinias. The Palike has selected species which can give shade, have timber value and are flowery in nature to plant.

The Palike had taken up a similar campaign last year and over 1.5 lakh seedlings were planted then.
Out of them 80 per cent are said to have survived. “Those which have not survived will be replaced by new seedlings”, Shekar said.

The Palike will give priority to planting the seedlings on the roadside as well as in the layouts developed by Bangalore Development Authority.

Cost

The campaign will go on for two months. Each seedling planted will be protected with a tree guard made up of bamboo. Palike staff will take care of watering the plants. Shekhar said the Palike spends Rs 25 to raise each seedling. Over Rs 200 goes towards protective guard for each tree.

The total expenditure for the drive would come to Rs 56 lakh, he added.

Seedlings of selected species

Want to make your street look greener? Then here is an opportunity. The BBMP has come forward to provide seedlings of selected species free of cost for those who wish to plant them in public place. Those interested can approach the joint commissioner of the respective zone to get the required number of seedlings. Residents Welfare Associations, Senior Citizens Forums, Youth Associations can themselves avail this opportunity. If the public want to plant seedlings in their private land they can buy seedlings provided by the BBMP at subsidised rates.