Killed a sapling? Plant, nurture a new one

BBMP has a way to make those who harm saplings go green

Have you seen someone damaging saplings? Make the perpetrator plant a new one as punishment. A few days ago, some people allegedly killed four saplings using chemicals. They had been planted at the Mangammanapalya Lake bund during the lockdown

A few residents, who went for a walk on Tuesday morning, noticed the dead saplings and informed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Forest Department. “I visited the lake with a former corporator. We noticed the dead saplings and informed the BBMP authorities,’’ said Lakshman N, resident of Mangammanapalya.

After receiving the information, the BBMP Deputy Conservator of Forest deputed the assistant conservator of forest to the spot on Wednesday morning. “The people who allegedly killed four saplings have apologised. They said the saplings were dead due to the ongoing welding work in the adjacent building. They have replaced the dead saplings with fresh ones,’’ said Mahesh, Assistant Conservator of Forest (South).


The ACF added that he handed over five saplings to the people concerned and asked them to plant and nurture them for the next three years. “I have created a WhatsApp group to keep a vigil on these saplings. They will inform me if these saplings are killed or damaged. The size of the dead saplings was three feet. The size of the saplings I gave them is around 10 feet,’’ he said.

Appreciating the residents as well as the BBMP Forest Department for replacing the dead saplings with fresh ones, Lalithamba B V, a member of Community Task Force, said the saplings planted on the lake bund are meant for providing greenery and oxygen and certainly not for damaging or killing. “I am happy with the proactive attitude of the residents as well as the BBMP Forest Department,’’ said Lalithamba.

K Gopinath of ITI Layout has welcomed the BBMP Forest Department’s efforts in making those responsible for the death of four saplings to plant and nurture more saplings. “I was shocked to see the dead saplings. I hope no sapling has to meet a similar fate in future,’’ said Gopinath.