Green lovers see red over MC workers’ negligence

Sandeep Rana
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, October 16

Even as lakhs are spent on planting saplings during monsoon every year, efforts seem to be bearing little fruit, courtesy the UT Administration and the MC apathy.

Due to lack of coordination between officials-workers and lack of tree guards, many plants are being mowed during at the time of grass cutting in different parks, roadsides, rally grounds and other areas.

In a recent case, workers cut about 30 to 50 saplings planted in a Sector 27 green belt adjoining Jain temple with lawn mowers. The incident has not gone down well with tree lovers. “We are shocked to see it. These saplings were planted in July only. There is no check. It has become a normal practice in the city and the officials concerned are apparently not bothered about it,” lamented a Sector 27 resident.

In another case, about 500 plants planted at the Sector 25 rally ground by an organisation have been destroyed. “Since we did not have tree guards, the saplings were cut along with grass by workers. This is result of a lack of coordination among gardeners, supervisors and JEs,” shared Rahul Mahajan, a city-based horticulturist. “The plantation drive by the authorities is mere eyewash. If they claim to have planted 2.5 lakh saplings, only 8,000 survive, roughly about 3 per cent. Had it not been the case, 20 lakh trees would have been added to the city green cover in the past eight years,” added the tree lover.

KP Singh, head, horticulture wing, MC, said he was not aware of the incidents, adding that they keep a full care of the saplings they plant. “We are getting tree guards under the MPLAD fund,” he added.

The MC plants saplings in parks, community centres and along all Paths, while the UT Administration plants these along all Margs and other areas falling under it. The forest department does the same in the forest area.

During monsoon this year, the MC had planted 40,000 saplings. The campaign had started on June 15.