Prompted by what it describes as a “phenomenal decline in green cover” in the city, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to take up an “extensive afforestation” drive.

Citing a study conducted by KSPCB and Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) that found tree cover had declined from 72 per cent of the total area to just 21 per cent over the last 40 years, the order says that greening Bangalore could help “control noise levels and improve ambient air quality”. The city is now left with 14,78,418 trees, according to the study conducted using remote sensing data, maps and GPS-based surveys.

While this translates into just 0.1 tree per person, “an attempt should be made to have at least one tree per person in Bangalore city”, says the order. This is the latest among a slew of directives on noise and air pollution from KSPCB, which recently received flak from the High Court for not enforcing environment protection laws. KSPCB chairman Vaman Acharya, in the order, has instructed the civic body “to formulate an action plan” for “extensive afforestation in Bangalore city”.

However, greening efforts are inevitably at odds with development plans for the city. For instance, BBMP’s Chief Conservator of Forests Brijesh Kumar told The Hindu that his office received applications to fell roughly 5,000 trees in the city every year. This comprises trees in private properties that residents want removed and also trees felled for infrastructure projects. This year (until September), around 2,000 trees have been felled already.

The civic body has planted over 6 lakh saplings over the last four years, Mr. Kumar said.