Noida, Greater Noida authorities to replace dead saplings with new ones
It is estimated that around 10%-15% of saplings planted in the monsoon die due to poor maintenance and other reasons. The Greater Noida authority had planted 1.8 lakh saplings and the Noida authority had planted 1.5 lakh saplings to increase green cover.
The Noida and Greater Noida authorities have instructed their contractors and staff to inspect the saplings planted last monsoon and replace dead saplings with new ones.
It is estimated that around 10%-15% of saplings planted in the monsoon die due to poor maintenance and other reasons. The Greater Noida authority had planted 1.8 lakh saplings and the Noida authority had planted 1.5 lakh saplings to increase green cover.
“We started a special campaign on March 15 to spot dead saplings or plants and replace them with new ones. The campaign will continue till April 15 and we aim to replace all dead saplings and plants. Of the 1.8 lakh saplings that were planted last monsoon, 10%-15% percent have died,” Anand Mohan Singh, the general manager of the Greater Noida authority, said.
The Greater Noida authority instructed each of its 25 private contractors to replace dead plants or saplings by April 15. “Our staff and contractors are in the field daily since March 15 so that we can complete our job before the temperature increases further. We could not do it earlier as most of the staff was busy in election duties. We will do it before peak summer, which is the best time to plant saplings,” Singh said.
The Greater Noida authority said that it does not need to spend money on the exercise as the contractor will provide them new saplings. The Noida authority, as per the tender condition, will levy a penalty of Rs400 on the private contractor for each sapling that dies after plantation.
“As per the agreement, the contractor he has to look after the maintenance of the tree for two years. If a tree dies within two years, the contractor has to plant a new tree. We will impose a penalty otherwise,” Omvir Singh, the director of horticulture department of the Noida authority, said.
The horticulture department is also inspecting parks, green belts and roadsides, where plantation drives were carried out last monsoon. “Today (Tuesday), I conducted an inspection of Sector 23 and Phase-II,” Singh said.
