Forest department to plant 50,000 saplings in Mysuru soon

MYSURU: To increase the greenery of Mysuru, the forest department will be planting more than 50,000 saplings in the city after two consecutive rains.
Mysuru, known as a garden city, will become further green as the department will be planting 15 varieties of saplings at Vijayanagar, MUDA layouts, various government institutions including at SP office premises and on the campus of University of Mysore.
Speaking to TOI, KC Prashanth, deputy conservator of forests, said: “Already the saplings are grown at three different nurseries—Kukkarahalli lake premise, near Bandipalya and at Yelwala. For the past one year, we have grown these plants. There will be 15 varieties of saplings which include neem, nerle, honge and decoma which will be planted across the city. Apart from planting saplings at different layouts and government institutions, we will also be planting another 20,000 saplings on roadsides.”
Nearly 85 to 90% of saplings planted last year have survived. Usually, the percentage of saplings’ survival is very less but most of the saplings which were planted last year have survived and are growing very well. “The secret behind the success is not only providing timely water and safeguarding them but also from last year we are planting saplings which grow well, that is with a height of nearly eight feet instead of three to four feet. Once it repeatedly rains, these plants start growing very well and it is also easy to maintain.”
He also mentioned that public participation in protecting and looking after the plants has also increased in recent years. However, he mentioned that there are lot of scope for improvement.