94,000 trees enumerated so far in Bengaluru tree census: Deputy CM Shivakumar

The Karnataka High Court directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to start counting the trees in October 2019.

In October 2019, the Karnataka High Court directed the BBMP to start tree enumeration in the city within one month starting October 10 of that year. (File Photo)

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has floated eight tenders for holding a tree census across the Karnataka capital even as the civic body has enumerated 94,000 trees so far.

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, also the minister for Bengaluru development, said in a press statement on Tuesday that the exercise had been completed in two wards in the Bommanahalli zone—Vidyapeeta (4,600 trees) and Katriguppe (4,300 trees). He said the entire exercise would be completed in the current financial year.

In October 2019, the Karnataka High Court directed the BBMP to start tree enumeration in the city within one month starting October 10 of that year. After the court’s order, as per the provisions of the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act 1976, the civic body first reached out to the Institute of Wood Science and Technology and then to Gandhi Krishi Vigyana Kendra to conduct the survey. However, despite months of discussions, the contracts did not take shape.

Survey of open wells

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In addition, to seek help from citizens in addressing water scarcity, the BBMP’s Climate Action Cell is launching a crowdsourcing activity for mapping open wells, an integral part of Bengaluru’s water security. Once identified, the open wells will be rejuvenated under a standard operating protocol.

To increase green cover in the city, the BBMP’s forest, environment and climate change wing is launching a series of “mapathon” events. The initiative will involve local community members to use technology for the identification of potential green spaces in empty sites. A pilot project is being conducted for the Bommanahalli zone and it will soon be extended to all eight zones in the city, the BBMP said.

The BBMP also announced the Fellows of Climate Action Cell programme, under which the civic body will recruit passionate and experienced youngsters to support the implementation of climate actions as well as to help the cell in the preparation of projects. The fellows will be paid a stipend and work under the supervision of the cell.

Shivakumar also announced that Bengaluru would join the Cities4Forests platform, a global alliance of more than 95 cities aimed at facilitating technical support and knowledge sharing.

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