Bengaluru: Bangalore Development Authority’s ambitious bid to set a Guinness World Record by planting 15 lakh saplings in June came with a hefty price tag of Rs 12.5 crore.Responding to a question from Yelahanka BJP MLA SR Vishwanath in the legislative assembly Tuesday, CM DK Shivakumar said BDA spent that amount on the record attempt, including procurement and transportation of saplings, hiring Guinness World Record consultants, digital platform charges and advertisements.The BDA procured three broad categories of planting material for the drive. Around 5 lakh saplings of common native tree species were purchased at Rs 54.7 each, while 3 lakh shrubs and medicinal plants were procured at Rs 45 per sapling. The remaining 7.5 lakh saplings comprised rare, endangered and threatened species. Besides, the authority onboarded 23 NGOs to maintain the saplings after planting to ensure survival and upkeep of the plantation.BDA sourced the 15 lakh saplings, covering 350 species, from two vendors. Ishan Native Plants of Kondashettihalli near Hesaraghatta supplied 10.5 lakh saplings, while Shivanna of Makali in Channapatna taluk of Ramanagara district supplied another 5 lakh.The record attempt was spread across nearly 200 acres at three locations. As many as 8,29,251 saplings were planted across 103.6 acres in Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout and Banashankari 6th Stage. The remaining 7,31,350 saplings were planted across 94.7 acres in Dr Shivaram Karanth Layout, Yelahanka.
