Hyderabad: While crores of rupees are being spent for the beautification of the medians beneath the viaduct of Metro Rail, the saplings of ornamental plants are not able to survive as they are not being watered regularly. Trees which have been put up on the sides of the pavements at Habsiguda, Tarnaka and other areas in the city, are also losing their lush green gloss and drying up.
A senior officer explained, “There are contractors appointed to water them regularly. We have to beautify all these medians with ornamental plants and create a green stretch like the one near Parade Grounds.” Parade Grounds was the first beautified stretch, after which the Nagole area was taken up. While these two places are being properly maintained, the new saplings which have been put up at Mettuguda, Tarnaka, Ameerpet have withered as they were not planted on time and also not watered properly.
There is continuous vehicular pollution on these stretches of road and for the plant saplings to survive there is a need to make sure they are not left dry. At Mettuguda, saplings that have already dried out from too much exposure and too much neglect are lying inside the median area, where they have been kept aside for re-planting.
For them to revive, they require a conducive environment — sunlight and water. But all that these plants are presently getting is an overdose of vehicle smoke and dust pollution, which is leading to them wilting and drying faster than expected.
