Plants on median along key stretches wither in heat
- Bhubaneswar: The rise in the mercury level has been affecting not only people of the city but also plants on the road medians.
- Along important stretches like Rajpath between Raj Mahal Square and AG Square, Bidyut Marg between Powerhouse Square and Jaydev Vihar Square and also the stretch between Delta Square and Fire Station Square, plants are dying due to the scorching heat and lack of maintenance, sources said. At several places, plants are growing wild and falling on the main lanes of important roads of ten blocking the paths.
- The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) had carried out plantation along the medians and put tree guards at several places to protect them. A fresh plantation drive was also taken up under a beautification drive for the 2023 men's hockey World Cup.
- "It has come to our notice that several trees planted before the hockey World Cup have started dying on the Rajpath due to non-ma- administration. intendance. We have instructed the private agency Ent rusted for their maintenance to take proper care of the plantation," local corporator Mihir Kumar Rout said.
- Rout, chairman of the education, recreation and culture standing committee of BMC raised the issue in its last meeting. The committee is supposed to look after such issues and bring it to the notice of the civic administration.
- Rout said that along with Rajpath, they have also identified a few other stretches where similar issues exist.