The civic body has developed an Android app, BBMP Green, which citizens can use to place orders for saplings to plant.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has set a target of planting one lakh saplings across the city during this monsoon. It will be offering nine lakh saplings free of cost as part of the Vanamahotsav festival. These 10 lakh saplings are from the BBMP’s five nurseries in Kempapura (East zone), Atturu, Dairy Circle, Kempapura (Mahadevapura zone) and Koodlu.
Citizens can order as many saplings as they want from among 16 species through the app, which records the GPS location and ward number. The saplings will be delivered to the closest civic park from where citizens can collect them.
These saplings can either be planted within the compound, in front of private residences or by the side of the road. BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad said that the app was designed to get the public to partner with the civic body and share responsibility for adding to Bengaluru’s diminishing green cover.
“BBMP alone cannot be responsible for watering and tending to all the trees. Through this initiative, we are encouraging people to take responsibility of at least the trees they plant,” he said.
Tree expert Vijay Nishanth said that the list of 16 species is a healthy mix of flowering, fruit bearing, wood and medicinal trees. “Most of the trees are indigenous species and fast growing ones. Trees like Kadubadami, Tapasi, Simarouba and Jamun are friendly for birds and bees. Unlike earlier, care has been taken to factor in diversity of species as well,” he said.
The 16 species
Wood trees: Honge, Mahagony
Flowering trees: Holedasavala, Huvarasi, Sampige, Basavanapada, Tabubia, Jacaranda, Tabebuia Guayacan
Fruit bearing trees: Kadubadami, Jamun, Gooseberry, Cherry
Medicinal trees: Neem, Simarouba, Tapasi
