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Mid-Day: BMC green drive gets axe-effect: July 31, 2010

BMC green drive gets axe-effect…..Somita Pal
Inflation takes a toll on the civic body’s tree plantation drive; corporation forced to purchase smaller trees to cut cost
It’s not the aam aadmi alone who is struggling to cope with the spiralling prices; the civic body is now feeling
CUT TO SIZE: The 10-ft tall saplings that were found in Byculla zoo’s nursery a few months ago

the heat too. The latest victim of inflation is the BMC’s much talked about tree plantation drive. 

Despite setting aside a budget of Rs 12 crore for creating a tree bank, the drive is pinching the civic body’s pocket. But encouraged by the tumultuous success of last year’s tree plantation project, wherein 5,000 trees from an Andhra Pradesh nursery were replanted in the city, the BMC has decided to go ahead with the drive, albeit a few compromises.
Though the Corporation has decided to purchase one lakh trees, 95,000 more than last year, they are trying the cut costs where ever possible.

“Last year, we bought 5,000 trees (15 ft to 20 ft high) from the Rajamundry nursery in Andhra Pradesh for Rs 1,000 each. However, since many of them did not survive the heat last year, and the nursery suffered losses, they have increased prices by 30 to 40 per cent. As a result we have decided to go for trees, with a height of 10 ft to 15 ft. They are priced anywhere between Rs 300 and 500,” said Chandrashekhar Rokde, deputy municipal commissioner (gardens).  

The purchase of these trees will cost the BMC a maximum of Rs 5 crore, as against the Rs 10 crore they would have spent had they bought the 15-ft trees. As many as 30 species, including the indigenous Banyan and the exotic Khaya (a type of mahogany), have been shortlisted by the Tree Authority, which are expected to come by next month.
Rise in fuel prices
Keeping in mind the steep rise in fuel prices, the civic body may purchase the trees from nearby nurseries in Pune and Gujarat.
“We spend a lot on fuel while transporting trees from Rajamundry, which is nearly 1,300 km from the city. We will try and bring them from nurseries that are closer to Mumbai and thus save on transportation cost,” said Rokde.

Also, the civic body is planning to develop nurseries in and around the city, where exotic trees can be grown.
“Flying to Andhra Pradesh every year to purchase saplings is not feasible. Hence, we have decided to develop three nurseries one each in the western and eastern suburbs and one in south Mumbai. However, the plan is in its nascent stages,” he added.

* Did you know?
Of the 5,000 trees bought  from Andhra Pradesh last year 4,500 have been planted across the city.
* Rs 5 crore BMC’s total cost of purchasing  the trees
* RS 2.5 CRORE PRIZE MONEY
The BMC last week announced a prize money of Rs 2.5 crore for encouraging plantation of saplings in the city and suburbs. It will allocate Rs 10 lakh to each ward, which in turn will reward NGOs and cooperative societies that encourage tree plantation.
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