Mounesh Vishwakarma

Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)

Bantwal, Oct 15: As there is a government rule that ten times the number of saplings should be planted for every tree axed for development work, 2,500 saplings are being planted in the cooperation of the forest department here this time.

Saplings are being planted at Jakribettu, in between highway and Netravati river side. The plants were being planted last year itself. Nearly one thousand saplings were planted in association with Lions club last year. However more saplings could not be planted for scarcity of land and interlock was laid in other places.

There are plans to plant 2,500 saplings from Jakribettu to Punjalkatte this time. Lions club has cooperated in the work.

Nearly 1,106 trees were axed for the development of B C Road – Punjalkatte highway. Therefore, 11,060 saplings need to be planted. The department has paid Rs 33,18,000 to the contractors.

“As the funds from the department were not received on time, the saplings are being planted in the cooperation of the Lions club. The organization has assured to provide the plants and the workers,” said Rajesh Baligar, zonal forest officer, Bantwal.