BENGALURU: Almost 6,000 saplings will be planted within hours on Saturday in Kyalasanahalli.
An earlier story by City Express told readers about the efforts being made by the CSR arm of city-based Sansera Engineering to rejuvenate Kyalasanahalli lake. When we first visited the site, Anand Malligavad, head of Sansera’s corporate projects and the man behind the lake rehabilitation project, showed us how in just 45 days, the previously 36-acre lake was already starting to get restored to its former glory with the help of people from nearby villages.
A month later, Anand says that his work is almost complete. On Saturday, Anand, along with Bengaluru-based NGO SayTrees, are going to conduct a massive sapling plantation drive - planting almost 6,000 saplings in a span of four hours.“After the initial government survey of the lake, we conducted our own survey recently with the help of farmers and found that an additional four acres was being encroached on for agricultural purposes,” says Anand.
He adds that in this new-found four acres, one acre will be dedicated to ayurvedic plants, and
the other three will be used to create Karnataka’s largest forest, using the Miyawaki method of tree plantation.“With the help of SayTrees, 1,500 nature lovers, 200 villagers from three nearby villages and 300 people from Sansera, will get together on Saturday morning for the plantation drive,” Anand adds.
Apart from this, he says that they have erected 40 benches and installed dustbins around the lake. He adds that a children’s playground is being constructed in the area. Drinking water facilities and a kalyani well has also been built around this lake.
“Until the lake is filled with water, we want to host satsangs for the locals in the nearby villages at the lake to help them to feel more connected to it,” says Anand. These days, between 6pm and 7.30pm, he says that he sees a lot of people coming near the lake to take a walk and to cycle. “Children come and explore the playground facilities we are constructing here,” he says.
What is Miyawaki method of tree plantation?
The Miyawaki method of planting trees involves the planting of a number of different types of trees close together in a small pit. By closely planting many random trees close together in a small area, the plants are enriched, therefore also adding to the richness of the land. This will lead to co-existence of plants, and each plant draws vital nutrients from the other plants. This makes them grow quicker, stronger and healthier.