Bengaluru Minister Fumes Over Missing 11 Lakh Saplings, Demands Answers on Plantation Funds

Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has publicly expressed strong anger over a significant mismatch in tree plantation records, with 11 lakh (1.1 million) saplings unaccounted for since 2008. The minister questioned officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) forest cell after a tree census revealed only 9 lakh trees, despite claims of 20 lakh saplings having been planted. This startling discovery has raised serious concerns about the effectiveness and honesty of the city's greening efforts. The core of the issue extends beyond just missing saplings; Minister Byre Gowda also sharply criticized the practice of charging Rs 300 for digging each pit, particularly when many pits reportedly do not meet the required 2.5-foot depth, width, and length. This high cost, alongside poor planting standards, suggests potential financial irregularities within the city's plantation drive, which are meant to use public funds for environmental conservation. Similar issues of low sapling survival rates and questionable spending have been seen in other parts of Karnataka, highlighting a broader problem of oversight in greening projects. In response, Minister Byre Gowda has ordered strict accountability measures, demanding that complete and mandatory records be kept for every sapling planted going forward. He also announced a new strategy for the current year, aiming to plant 64,130 saplings at a cost of Rs 9.40 crore, with ward assistant engineers acting as nodal officers and actively involving Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). This move aims to bring more transparency and community participation to ensure that public money is spent wisely and that Bengaluru's green cover truly grows.