Bengaluru: Guinness record plantation drive draws flak over sapling neglect

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

As part of a mass plantation drive, 15 lakh saplings were planted by the BDA in collaboration with NGOs and citizens. The objective was to increase the city’s green cover and was widely publicised as an exercise to create a record while also enhancing the green cover in the city. It earned a Guinness World Record.

Taking to social media, the JD(S) described the situation as “a Guinness World Record for the fastest scam!” and said that 15 lakh saplings were planted in 12 hours for a massive PR photo-op by the BDA, only to wither away within days due to zero maintenance and flawed planting methods.

“Is this a ‘Green Vision’ or just ‘greenwashing’ of ₹88 crore to fill their own pockets? Taxpayer money and CSR funds are being dumped into dry soil while accountability remains at zero,” it said.

Taking to X, B.Y. Vijayendra, Karnataka BJP president, said, “The Congress government in Karnataka planted 15 lakh saplings, earned a Guinness World Record, held press conferences, and patted itself on the back. Then the cameras left, and the saplings died.”