BMC To Plant 3K Saplings This Year

Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will plant 3,000 tree saplings, as a part of its green drive, this year.

While there is a plan to have 40 plants with iron-mesh tree guards in each ward, the rest will be distributed in popular parks and public places with need for green cover.

The plantation drive started on Saturday from Pahala in Ward No 4. It is being undertaken by the Environment Cell of BMC and will be coordinated in consultation with the local councillors.

For the safety and longevity of each saplings, strongly-built tree guards will be put up.

BMC Environment Officer Kapilendra Sethi said, “Most plant species were chosen to suit the avenue plantation types and we have saplings of Bakul (Baula) Mimusops elengi, Neem (Nimba) Azadirachta indica, Indian biodiesel tree (Karanja) Pongamiaglabra, Mysore Queen (Bathudia)  Spathodia campanulata, Deodar (Debadaru) Polyalthia longifolia, Terminallia bellerica (Bahada), Jack fruit (Panasa) Atrocarpus heterophyllus, Mango (Amba) Magnifera indica and Litchi (Lichhu) Litchi chinensis. While majority are non-fruit-bearing types, Mango and Litchi varieties will be planted in parks and community areas.”

After the Super Cyclone, Phailin and Hudhud experience, plants like Gold mohur Delonix regia (Krushnachuda) and Radhachuda Caesalpinia pulcherrima have lost their importance due to the fragile nature of the timber.

Strong and those having better canopy like Indian biodiesel tree (Karanja) and Pongamia glabra are more in demand as these are of medicinal value, he added.

“Besides the avenue plantation in 67 wards we can also plant saplings in 55 BMC parks across the city,’’ the environment officer informed.

On the post-plantation care, the senior official said, “We have to give the support after the rainy season is over as there will be a scarcity of water at that point of time. The Environment Cell has got two tankers and staff for watering of plants and we will see that all the saplings survive.”