Программа озеленения Бангалора под угрозой срыва: из 394 заявок жителей утвердили лишь 67

The Greater Bengaluru Authority’s (GBA) plan to plant 64,000 saplings in collaboration with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) has hit a roadblock, with field verification by the corporations finding only 67 of the 394 applications feasible. According to data available with The Hindu, the GBA saw a massive response to the community plantation drive, with corporations receiving 394 applications seeking 54,623 saplings. However, not all applications met the criteria set by the GBA. Of the total number of saplings sought, 14,846 were for areas falling outside the GBA’s jurisdiction. When field verification was carried out for the remaining applications, only 67 applications seeking 5,530 saplings fulfilled all the criteria, including minimum area requirements, minimum sapling requirements and sapling specifications. A source in the GBA said RWAs were very excited, but most of the places they identified had narrow lanes, concreted surroundings, drain-line hindrances and other issues. “We are already witnessing hundreds of tree falls, and this year in particular, we have had over 1,000 trees uprooted despite a weak monsoon. We are being specific about locations and dimensions to ensure these trees do not make streets unsafe,” the officer said. However, individuals seeking saplings have shown significant interest, with 3,265 saplings sought, underscoring the growing interest among citizens in increasing the city’s green cover. Corporations to identify spots As a mandatory exercise, Bengaluru’s civic bodies have to plant one lakh saplings every year. However, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda recently criticised officials for the exercise remaining on paper and not translating into action on the ground. This led to the launch of the citizen-participation plantation drive. Under the Bengaluru Hasiruru banner, Mr. Gowda announced the drive, which aimed to plant 64,000 saplings across the city. As the applications fell short, a GBA official said the corporations have now been tasked with identifying locations for planting the saplings as part of this year’s quota. “The civic bodies have been identifying places near lakes and along wider roads. Plantation will now be taken up at the corporation level, and the responsibility for maintenance will also rest with them,” the official said. Citizen participation crucial Another official pointed out that citizen participation is crucial to preserving the city’s green cover. The collaboration with citizens announced earlier by the Minister was a good model for ensuring the maintenance of trees. However, there is currently no plan to reopen registrations for citizens, the official said. “It will be better if the maintenance of saplings is given to citizens because accountability and transparency will be higher. There will be collective opposition even if someone wants to axe a tree. Such a model will curb the illegal felling of trees in the future to a great extent,” he said.