The Karnataka BJP has launched a sharp attack on the Congress government over its Rs 54 crore Green Bengaluru plantation drive. The party alleges the initiative has turned into a failure, with thousands of saplings reportedly drying up due to poor maintenance.
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar led a mass urban greening initiative that planted 15 lakh saplings across Bengaluru in just 12 hours. The drive aimed to combat the Urban Heat Island effect and officially secured a Guinness World Records title for the achievement.
The campaign took place on June 27, timed to coincide with the 517th birth anniversary of Bengaluru’s founder, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda.
BJP’s allegations against the drive
Senior BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, R. Ashoka, issued a statement criticising the initiative. He shared photographs purportedly showing dried up saplings and accused the government of prioritising publicity over actual implementation.
According to Ashoka, crores of rupees were spent on the plantation campaign itself, along with advertisements, press conferences and promotional videos. He alleged that once the project was launched, the saplings were left unattended.
Claims of neglect and poor maintenance
Ashoka claimed that many saplings had been dumped near drains without adequate watering or maintenance, which he said led to their death. He accused Chief Minister Shivakumar of treating governance as a photo opportunity rather than focusing on effective execution of development projects.
He questioned the government’s overall approach, alleging that the Congress government tends to announce large projects, spend heavily on publicity around them, and then fail to ensure proper implementation on the ground. Also, he further questioned how the government could be trusted with larger infrastructure projects if it allegedly could not even maintain a tree plantation programme.
BJP also targets Congress leadership
Ashoka extended his criticism to the broader Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi. He alleged that the party speaks extensively about environmental protection and good governance, while failing to implement its own initiatives within Karnataka.