The Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) is relying mainly on three tankers, each of the 5,000 liters capacity, for watering the saplings. But the system is reportedly not enough to cover the trees planted all over the city. Moreover, 35-40% of the total saplings are to be planted in hilly regions where tankers cannot be driven, which is further posing a big question mark on the success of the drive.

Interestingly, in the last season, the civic authorities could save less than 35% of the saplings. The civic body had planted 12,000 saplings between July 2015 and December 2016. But a cursory survey conducted by TOI revealed that most of the saplings on various road dividers, footpaths and open spaces had dried up as the water-starved municipal body could not take care of them. Many saplings were destroyed by cattle due to lack of tree guards.

The damage is estimated at 60% as one could easily spot dried up plants on many road dividers near Bhatkal Gate, Begumpura, Amarpreet Chowk to Dargaha, Jalna Road, Central bus stand road and Delhi Gate area. But the municipal authorities attributed the poor survival rate to deficit rainfall.

Garden superintendent in Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Vijay Patil said the authorities had succeeded in surviving a significant number of plants despite of all odds in the previous season.

For the upcoming season, the civic body believes that good rainfall would come to its rescue. Apart from this, the authorities are looking at encouraging people participation for achieving satisfactory level of sapling survival.

"We have a system in place for watering the saplings planted on road dividers, gardens and other public places in the city. But taking care of all the plants in peak summer is a very challenging job," Patil said.