Complaints of irregularities in purchase of seedlings and its cages have been raised against Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). They already planted 2,000 trees on various roads and road dividers. The entity bought these trees at several times more than the market price. At the same time, bamboo cages have been bought for the safety of the trees at several times higher prices. As announced by Mayor Atiqul Islam, the program of planting 2 lakh trees in Dhaka North City has started. On June 6, the program was inaugurated at the footpath and road divider of Mayor Anisul Huq Road in Tejgaon of the capital.
According to the information of DNCC's Environment Circle, 151 saplings of Chatim, Bakul and Kadbadam trees have been planted on the footpaths of Anisul Haque road. And 3 thousand 600 seedlings of henna, Ranjan, Korbi, Bagan Bilas and Baman Jarul are being planted on the road dividers. Small saplings of 1 to 1.5 feet on road dividers and 3 to 4 feet saplings will be planted on sidewalks. Officials of the organization said that 2,000 saplings have been planted till June 15. It is reported from the environment circle that small saplings have to be bought at 90 taka and big ones at 250 taka. In addition, each cage is being bought for 600 rupees.
The owner of a nursery in Banshri area, Ruhul Amin said big saplings (3 to 4 feet) are being sold at Tk 200 to 250 taka, Krishna chura and Sonalu Tk 120 to 150. However, it will take Tk 500 to buy the same size Chatim seedlings. Apart from this, 1 to 1.5 feet thorn plants planted on the road dividers are being sold at Tk 30 to Tk 40 wrapped in polythene packets and Tk 50 to Tk 60 in cement sacks. Masud Iqbal, the owner of a shop called Kachukhet Asian Capt, which sells various bamboo and bamboo products, said bamboo cages with a height of 4.5 feet and a width of 1.5 feet are sold for at Tk 220. If you take a pole with it, it will cost 70-80 taka more. The total cost will be Tk 300. Other shop owners also ask the same price for the same size bamboo cage.
Dhaka North City Mayor Md. Atiqul Islam told Bangladesh Pratidin, “The saplings have not been bought yet. I asked some nurseries to give trees, they did. We haven't paid them yet. If the money is not paid, then where is the irregularity?”
He also said, “I want to make the city green. For that I have announced to plant 2 lakh trees. I am planting trees accordingly. Yesterday also I bought saplings from a government nursery at the price of Tk 9.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
