BENGALURU: Highlighting the importance of enhancing the city’s green cover, Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday informed that while last year, 52,000 tree saplings were planted by schoolchildren, this year, under the green protection programme, over 2 lakh saplings will be planted, for which an agreement has been signed with several schools.
Speaking at the Brand Bengaluru Greening Program, organised as part of the World Environment Day celebrations at Cubbon Park’s Bal Bhavan, he said, “If you plant a tree, there will be more rain, and if it rains, there will be enough water.”
The DyCM added that many voluntary organisations are working to preserve Bengaluru’s green cover and the government will also support them. “A total sum of Rs 410 crore, with Rs 310 crore under various departments and Rs 100 crore under the 15th Finance Commission, have been earmarked for green conservation of Bengaluru,” he said, adding that the students should take care of the plants they plant.
Lauding the achievement of a girl from a Bagalkot-based government school, who scored 625 out of 625 in the SSLC exam, Shivakumar said there should be no discrimination in terms of providing education and facilities, and hence, the government will construct 2,000 toilets in government schools in rural areas.
Shivakumar also reminded about the drought and heat that the state faced in the recent months, stating that more than 200 taluks had to face drought without rain. “There was water shortage in Bengaluru, but the situation was managed. We should be vigilant so that such situations do not happen again,” Shivakumar said.
