Although, plants and saplings are being planted ceremoniously by Bhilai Municipal Corporation, civic authority, social organisations and other groups on a large scale occasionally, which is a noble initiative towards creating green and aesthetic environment around Steel City. Unfortunately, after getting accolades and appreciations for plantation drive; hardly anybody from concerning department comes forward for nurturing the planted saplings for ensuring their survival and growth. If environmentalist is to be believed that the BMC authority and also local bodies are not considering protection and cultivation of sapling as a serious issue, what they bother about is only the publicity of plantation event and keeping the record of number of sapling plantation. Amid scorching summer, several saplings planted on median and roadsides of National Highway and other busy stretches across city are withering due to improper care and lack of required nutrition.

 

People have added that plantation is not about planting a sapling and leave them as it is as sapling needs 12-18 months of intense care to grow which can be provided with water and fertilisers. Consequently, a large number of saplings, which were planted in the last rainy season at both sides of National Highway from Dabrapara to Nehru Nagar Crossing, are laying in wilted state. At some of the places, the tree-guards installed around the saplings to protect them are itself in damaged condition and stray animals can be seen jostling to eat the under grown plantlet. The Public Relation Officer of Bhilai Municipal Corporation, PC Sarva has informed that along with under grown saplings, the Bhilai Municipal Corporation workers are paying special attention on survival of grown up trees as well, while providing them water and organic nutrients timely.

 

PRO said that some of the tree-guards were damaged by reckless driving of heavy vehicles and few by anti-social elements and stray animals, are being replaced by civic authority. He also urged the city residents to extend support in making Steel City, Bhilai a green city while ensuring survival of saplings, planted in their nearby vicinity. However, the Horticulture Department of BMC authority has assured to initiate measure for proper care and monitoring of saplings, especially those planted on roadsides and said that the Bhilai Municipal Corporation staffers are watering saplings on regular basis.