Bengaluru: Guinness record plantation drive draws flak over sapling neglect

Following reports of poor maintenance of saplings planted by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) during Kempe Gowda Jayanti, leaders of both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) have criticized the State government.

As part of the mass planting campaign, 15 lakh saplings were planted by BDA in collaboration with NGOs and citizens. The aim was to increase the green cover of the city, and it was widely publicized as a practice that would increase the green cover of the city while breaking records. He was deemed worthy of the Guinness World Record.

JD(S) took to social media to describe the situation as “Guinness World Record for fastest scam!” defined as. and said that 15 lakh saplings were planted in 12 hours by BDA for a grand PR photo, but they withered within a few days due to zero maintenance and faulty planting methods.

“Is this a ‘Green Vision’ or a ₹88 million ‘greenwashing’ just to line their own pockets? Accountability remains at zero while taxpayers’ money and CSR funds are dumped on dry land,” he said.

Going to X, Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra said: “The Congress government in Karnataka planted 15 lakh saplings, won a Guinness World Record, held press conferences and patted itself on the back. Then the cameras went away and the saplings died.”