After being blamed for tree-felling in many parts of the, the BDA now plans to undo the damage by taking up mass tree-planting. This time, the stretch between Hebbal and Silk Board Junction on Outer Ring Road (ORR) will be greened with private participation. Deputy Conservator of Forests, BDA, Mr B. Jayram, said the agency is in contact with private companies who are interested in tree planting in city. “Every year, a number of corporates request for tree planting space, but the trees are not managed from the day after planting. We are making it mandatory for the companies to raise the saplings for the first three years so that the tree planting is not a failure. Also, we are choosing native tree species which grow well in the local conditions,” Mr Jayram said.
The planting will begin from the Hebbal flyover side in the next few weeks which will continue up to the Silk Board Junction. “We are concentrating on the 30-km stretch on ORR after which other parts of the ORR will be covered. Already, other civic agencies like BBMP and Forest Department have covered some stretches of ORR by planting trees, but we are planning to bridge the gap so that the entire ORR is covered by trees,” Mr Jayram added.
The BDA is also choosing such saplings which will not disturb buildings or electric wires after they attain some height. “Large-scale tree planting in the past has resulted in blunders during monsoon season. If the right variety of plants are not picked, the trees might cause danger to humans once they attain growth. The gulmohar trees which were planted on the roadside in the 80s, were the most damaged during monsoons since the tree is soft wood species and cannot withstand wind speed, especially during pre-monsoon season,” said a tree expert.