Ornamental plants under flyovers withering

The civic authorities appear to have failed to ensure that the potted plants, particularly near the Double Road Flyover in Shantinagar, are watered

Saplings under the flyover on K.H. Road are not being watered by the BBMP personnel. Photo: V.Karthikeyan

As part of its efforts to beautify the city, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has arranged pots with ornamental plants in the vacant spaces under flyovers. But, the civic authorities appear to have failed to ensure that the potted plants, particularly near the Double Road Flyover in Shantinagar, are watered.

Without water, the potted plants under the Double Road Flyover are withering. The only source of water is rain and the rainwater that runs off the flyover. The fountain ear of the flyover is also filled with stagnant water, covered with dirt.

The shopkeepers near the flyover said that they have never seen the pots being watered. “Nobody takes care of these plants and maintenance is very bad,” said Gunjan M. Shah, owner of a shop near the Shantinagar Junction.

BBMP sources said that the beautification of spaces underneath flyovers is maintained by the Forest Department of the BBMP. “But, in some cases, there is lack of maintenance and post-plantation care,” said the sources. “It is part of the duties to be discharged by the Forest Department of the BBMP. But, it has been neglected,” the sources said.

Mr. Shah said that the plants kept in pots in a small circle near the Shantinagar Junction, developed and maintained by HOSMAT group, are growing well. “I see people regularly watering the plants,” he added.

Software engineer Vinod Shankarappa, who often travels by the road, said that the plants used to be watered as long as there were advertisements on the flyover. “But, now they appear to have been left to dry and die,” he said.

Similarly, Shaan Shanmugham, a resident of the area, said that the civic body’s negligence is not confined to the ornamental plants underneath the flyover. “Even the park in this area is not maintained well,” he said.

However, the potted plants under the Domlur flyover are regularly watered by the personnel from the BBMP office nearby.

But, the fountain and dolphin statues kept underneath the flyover near Jayadeva Hospital have been ignored by the civic body.