Now Reading: BDA spent Rs 12.5 crore on Bengaluru’s 15-lakh sapling record bid
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BDA spent Rs 12.5 crore on Bengaluru’s 15-lakh sapling record bid
The Bangalore Development Authority spent Rs 12.5 crore on its June attempt to set a Guinness World Record by planting 15 lakh saplings. Chief Minister DK Shivakumar disclosed the figure in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, replying to a question from Yelahanka BJP MLA SR Vishwanath.
The expenditure covered procurement and transport of saplings, fees for Guinness World Record consultants, digital platform charges, and advertisements. The BDA bought saplings from two vendors: Ishan Native Plants supplied 10.5 lakh saplings and Shivanna supplied the remaining 5 lakh. The saplings spanned 350 species, including rare and endangered varieties.
Planting was carried out across nearly 200 acres at three locations in Bengaluru. The BDA also hired 23 NGOs to maintain the saplings after planting to ensure their survival.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Rs 12.5 crore cost works out to about Rs 83 per sapling, which includes not just the plant but transport, consultants, advertising, and post-planting maintenance. That is several times the typical nursery price of a native sapling. The real test begins now: urban plantation drives in India often report survival rates below 50 per cent within a year, especially when planted in bulk during monsoon. The BDA has not yet disclosed the current survival count or any independent audit of the saplings. Watch for the next assembly session when legislators are likely to ask for a survival report.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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