Mangaluru: After witnessing several trees being cut to make way for developmental works, MLA J R Lobo has said that now it is time to plant as much saplings as possible in the city.

                                                          MLA J R Lobo speaking at the press meet

At a press meet in his office, Lobo said that a drive to start planting saplings will be taken up in the city soon. He pointed that as many as 58 trees were cut to facilitate the construction of road from Kankanady to Nandigudda and to compensate, as many as 250 saplings will be planted in that stretch as decided, which is part of the project. Footpaths will also have saplings planted at ideally marked locations.

Under Urban planting scheme, 3000 saplings will be planted in various places in the city and Green cess is also to be imposed on new buildings. Forest department and Mangaluru City Corporation will take monitored steps towards this. Planted saplings need to be watered for the first three years and in this regard, various organisations and building owners have shown interest. A few areas in particular will be marked for them, to maintain, or if they wish to take care of the expenses, forest department will come forward to maintain them.

This apart, plants will be grown on the sewage treatment plant of the MCC and the dump yard. To reduce pollution in the surroundings of Pachanady dumping yard, there are plans to bring in three-layered landscaping.

He said that the Congress party level too, there have been plans to start a drive to plant at least ten plants in each block.