In an effort to fight the increasing concretisation and loss of green cover in Namma Bengaluru, MEG & Centre in association with BBMP and BDA, undertook a massive plantation drive with the motto ‘Each one plant one‘ on World Environment Day. A total of about 4,000 saplings which included flowering trees, medicine yielding, bio fuel and fruit trees were. The men in uniform were accompanied by their families while undertaking this social responsibility towards nature in general and the city in particular. It was heartening to see the enthusiasm and concerns about environment amongst the school children and the recruits taking part in this drive.
One of the previous commandants of the MEG & Centre, Lt Gen RM Mittal, SM, many senior officials of BBMP and BDA were present on the occasion to encourage the participants. The MEG Centre is a home to a wide variety of flora including some trees which are the last few living specimens in the state like the rare Sandbox Tree (Hura crepitans) which is a native of the Amazon forests of South America, and Silveroaks which were among the first specimens to come into the then princely state of Mysore from Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia.
The ancient Bearer of Wreaths’ (Filicium decipiens) is among the
earliest specimens growing in the Garden City and
not to mention, stately pipal and banyan trees that are a couple of centuries old. The Java Fig (Ficus beinjamina) trees planted in MEG & Centre in 1903 are the signature trees of MEG & Centre, which were first introduced at the Lalbagh botanical gardens in 1860s. These trees are the sole albeit mute witnesses to the saga of soldiering of the oldest group of the Corps of Engineers in the Indian Army that has been carefully
protected and nurtured by successive generations
of Madras Sappers since then. The massive tree planting endeavour undertaken by the 'Thambis’ is a true reflection of their ethos - Old ideals-new ideas. It is also a humble contribution towards preserving the rich legacy of flora in the State of Karnataka.