Dharwad: The attractive green belt on the median of dedicated BRTS lanes has vanished and the median looks parched, due to lack of maintenance.
The Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System had earned the reputation of being attractive among the BRTS lanes in the country. Commuting between Hubballi and Dharwad in ‘Chigari’ buses along the line of lush green trees was a pleasure. The trees were being maintained by a private contractor hired through the forest department.
As many as 2,800 saplings had been planted along the 8.5km stretch. PV Hiremath of Eco village had bagged the contract of implementation of the project and its maintenance.
As many as 1,600 saplings were planted on the median between Gandhi Nagar, Dharwad, and Naveen Hotel near Unkal, while 1,200 saplings had been planted on the sides of the road. BRTS had earmarked Rs 3.8 crore for the project. But all of it vanished due to weather and lack of watering. To facilitate water supply to the plants, an arrangement had been made to store 11 crore liters of rainwater on 7.1 acres of land. In the absence of borewells, the plants were watered by 12 tractors fitted with tankers in the summer and by six tankers on other non-rainy days. About two dozen workers took care of the plants.
Things were going on well as the contract was in force. The contract ended in November 2021 and since no new contract was given, the plants have withered.
BRTS MD Gurudatt Hegde attributed the withering of trees to change in season and absence of a contractor. He said tenders have been floated and a contractor will commence the work in a week. He said so far about 1,100 trees have been lost.
Last week Karnatak Vikas Grameen Bank donated a tractor fitted with a tanker under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project. In addition three borewells have been drilled to water the plants and retain the greenery along the median, Hegde said.
The Hubballi-Dharwad Bus Rapid Transit System had earned the reputation of being attractive among the BRTS lanes in the country. Commuting between Hubballi and Dharwad in ‘Chigari’ buses along the line of lush green trees was a pleasure. The trees were being maintained by a private contractor hired through the forest department.
As many as 2,800 saplings had been planted along the 8.5km stretch. PV Hiremath of Eco village had bagged the contract of implementation of the project and its maintenance.
As many as 1,600 saplings were planted on the median between Gandhi Nagar, Dharwad, and Naveen Hotel near Unkal, while 1,200 saplings had been planted on the sides of the road. BRTS had earmarked Rs 3.8 crore for the project. But all of it vanished due to weather and lack of watering. To facilitate water supply to the plants, an arrangement had been made to store 11 crore liters of rainwater on 7.1 acres of land. In the absence of borewells, the plants were watered by 12 tractors fitted with tankers in the summer and by six tankers on other non-rainy days. About two dozen workers took care of the plants.
Things were going on well as the contract was in force. The contract ended in November 2021 and since no new contract was given, the plants have withered.
BRTS MD Gurudatt Hegde attributed the withering of trees to change in season and absence of a contractor. He said tenders have been floated and a contractor will commence the work in a week. He said so far about 1,100 trees have been lost.
Last week Karnatak Vikas Grameen Bank donated a tractor fitted with a tanker under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project. In addition three borewells have been drilled to water the plants and retain the greenery along the median, Hegde said.
,