Rs 100 Crore to restore green cover

BANGALORE: In an initiative to restore the city's green cover, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has set aside Rs 100 crore in its current budget to plant one crore saplings in the agriculture zone.Addressing reporters at Hessaraghatta, after reviewing the green initiatives, Bharat Lal Meena, Commissioner, BDA, said that Namma Hasiru Maale, the initiative, would add to the tree cover in the city and prevent encroachments on Government lands.Recently inaugurated by the former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, this project will involve green initiatives in all government lands including government offices, valleys, lakes and certain private institutions.The authority will share the responsibility of planting 3 lakh saplings, as part of the first phase of this initiative, with the Social Forestry Division of the city. It has also set a time line for the first phase and expects to complete it by September 30, 2011. The Commissioner also added that the authority will seek help from allied agencies like the Revenue Department, Zilla Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Grama Panchayat.He also explained that the tree planting project is being conducted after a survey of the green belt that comprises 419 sq km of the city. The budget for this project is inclusive of the cost of sapling, planting and maintenance of plants for a period of 3 years.Mr M V Amarnath, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Mr J Srinath, Assistant Conservator of Forests were also present at the event.