Bengaluru: Guinness record plantation drive draws flak over sapling neglect

Bengaluru: Guinness record plantation drive draws flak over sapling neglect

The Bangalore Development Authority’s massive plantation drive, which secured a Guinness World Record for speed, is now criticized for severe sapling mortality due to poor maintenance. Critics argue the initiative prioritized public relations over ecological impact, suggesting the effort served as a superficial image-building exercise rather than genuine environmental conservation. Political leaders from opposing parties condemn the project as a potential scam, alleging that taxpayer money and corporate funds were wasted on flawed planting methods. The high rate of sapling death implies that the administration focused on quick, photo-worthy achievements rather than sustainable long-term green cover expansion. This incident highlights classic greenwashing, where impressive metrics obscure a lack of substantive environmental benefit. It underscores the risk of celebrating record-breaking quantities without ensuring survival rates, thereby misleading the public about true ecological progress and accountability.