BDA Faces Backlash Over Massive 15 Lakh Sapling Plantation Drive in Bengaluru

The Bangalore Development Authority’s (BDA) massive drive to plant 15 lakh saplings across Bengaluru on Sunday, June 28, has faced heavy criticism from citizens, environmentalists, and tree activists. The initiative, which aimed to secure a Guinness World Record within 12 hours, was slammed for poor scientific planning, monoculture planting, and extremely dense spacing, with volunteers in Banashankari and other areas raising concerns over the long-term survival of the trees.

Critics argued that the drive reduced urban greening to a mere "numbers game" rather than creating ecologically rich biodiversity islands. At several locations, saplings were reportedly planted barely 1 to 1.5 feet apart. Experts pointed out that native tree species, such as jamun, require a spacing of at least 5 to 7 feet to allow for a healthy tree canopy and root expansion.

"This is nothing short of a mockery of scientific plantation. Trees planted so closely will end up competing for sunlight, nutrients and water, reducing their long-term survival and ecological value," said Joseph Hoover, former member of the State Board of Wildlife and founder of the United Conservation Movement and Charitable Trust.

Volunteers also raised concerns about the quality of the planting. In Banashankari, a participant noted that the saplings used were too small for open landscapes, suggesting they should ideally be 4.5 to 5 feet tall to improve survival rates. The volunteer also pointed out that planting pits at some locations were too shallow to support proper root establishment.

Responding to the criticism, the BDA acknowledged that the drive fell short of expectations at several locations. The authority blamed the shortcomings on the overwhelming public participation of nearly 70,000 volunteers, which made coordination and execution challenging.

Charan GS, the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) for the BDA's Forest Division, assured that NGO partners have been instructed to correct the issues. "We are aware that monoculture plantations occurred at a few sites. These were unintended and largely a consequence of the scale of public participation," Charan said, adding that corrective measures would be completed by July 15.

The BDA stated that the drive was fully supported by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding, with 11 city-based NGOs serving as partners. Nearly Rs. 70 crore has been mobilized to maintain the saplings over the next three years. Despite a lack of expected rain, the BDA and its partners have been manually watering the saplings and are exploring drip irrigation systems.