Tech city to guard tree saplings

BANGALORE: The ‘silicon city’ is now planning to pitch in to make Bangalore truly the ‘Garden City’. Information Technology (IT) and Biotechnology (BT) companies in the City are going to guard the saplings planted by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).In 2010-11 budget, BBMP allotted money to plant 5 lakh saplings across the city, of which they planted only 3.08 lakh saplings. However, Horticulture Department officials of the BBMP say that only 50 per cent of those planted saplings are alive. “Many saplings did not have a proper guard around it, drastically reducing the chances of its survival. Also, excessive vehicular movement killed many saplings,” a official from the department said.In many places, BBMP fixed a tree guard. “Unfortunately, the few tree guards that BBMP installed were stolen. People takes those guards, which are made out of iron,” the official said.  Most of these thefts happen in the late hours, the official added.As BBMP is targeting to plant six lakh saplings this year, it is turning to the private companies to provide tree guards for these saplings. Chairman of the Standing Committee on Horticulture Anjanappa said that BBMP will ask IT-BT and other private companies to donate tree guards. “In return, the companies will be allowed to display their logo or advertisement on the guard without hindering the growth of the trees,” he said. The plan, according to Anjanappa, is that BBMP will give 50 percent of the tree guards required by calling for tenders. “We will call for tender soon and work order will be issued for the same,” he said. For the remaining required guards, he said that BBMP will approach IT-BT companies. The civic agency will provide 500 tree guards to each ward. These tree guards will be put up for a certain duration. “Once the plant grow big enough to evade cattle’s reach, then we will remove the guards and use it for other saplings,” he said.Responding to a question on the safety measures taken to protect the new guards, Anjanappa said that the new tree guards will be more stronger and concrete under the guard will put it firmly in place, making it difficult for thieves to remove it.”