BBMP: Census has not started in three zones; Tenders invited

6 lakh plants and trees census in 5 zones

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: A census of six lakh plants and trees has been conducted in five zones under BBMP jurisdiction, and a fresh one is yet to be started in three more zones.

The plant and tree census, which was supposed to be completed a year ago, is in progress in five zones. A fresh tender has been invited in three more zones, and the process is yet to begin.

A census of trees in Bengaluru should be conducted and made public. The High Court had directed the BBMP in 2019 to start the census process within three months. However, the census is not yet complete.

The plant and tree census work began in eight zones in October 2023. The census work, which was supposed to be completed by the end of March 2024, was slow for a year since it began. The mobile app prepared by the Karnataka State Remote Sensing Application Center (KSRSAC) in September 2024 gave a boost. However, the census was not conducted due to the failure of the contractors who won the tender in Mahadevapura, Dasarahalli, and East zones. Hence, fresh tenders have been called for the census in these three zones. 

Citizens have been allowed to know the details of the census of plants and trees conducted in the city. The age of the plant and tree, its species, name-biological name, and its circumference have been published experimentally on 

https://kgis.ksrsac.in/test/ 

to get tree information. 

Information can be obtained ward-wise along with a tree image. By selecting a ward on the extensive map and clicking on the image of a tree identified on a crossroad or main road, its information will be available. Each tree has been given the ward name and numbers. 

‘The website is in the experimental stage and any changes can be made. Therefore, citizens can send suggestions. Right now, the information is available only in English. Finally, when the website is officially launched, information will be available in Kannada as well, said B.L.G. Swamy, DCF of the Forest Department.

A census of all trees with a circumference of 5.5 cm or a height of 1 meter, including species, is being conducted. A number is entered on each tree during the census. Once everything is finalized, the picture of the tree, its number, along with its age and species information can be obtained through the barcode. A barcode/QR code board related to the trees visible when standing on one side of the road will be put up. Through this, the public will be able to get complete information about the trees in their area, he said.

Complete in three months: Swamy

‘As per our plan, the census of trees should have been completed by this time. The organizations that had been contracted to conduct the census in three zones did not carry out the census work to the expected extent. These same organizations had also been contracted in other zones. The census work is in progress in three zones. Therefore, the contract has been cancelled and fresh tenders have been called for the tree census in Dasarahalli, West and Mahadevpur zones. Everything will be completed in three months,' said BBMP Forest Department DCF B.L.G. Swamy.

6 lakhs; Tree census work completed

5; Census work in progress in South, R.R. Nagar, Bommanahalli, Yelahanka, East zones

3; New tender for census in Dasarahalli, West, Mahadevpur zones

2.60 lakhs; Estimated number of trees to be censused in each zone

₹48.60 lakhs; Cost of tree census in each zone