Mangalore : Mayor Mahabala Marla has said that Mangalore City Corporation will take up a more systematic way of planting saplings this rainy season to increase green cover in the city.

Addressing a gathering at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the Mayor said here on Monday that thrust would be given on not to plant saplings under overhead electric lines or where roads have been identified for widening.

He said that there was no point in planting saplings for the sake of observing “vanamahotsava” and getting publicity. Once a sapling was planted it should not be cut later for road widening or should be cut as it obstructed overhead electric lines.

Mr. Marla said that he would soon constitute a committee comprising officials from forest and horticulture departments, representatives from civil society to chalk out a plan for the systematic planting of saplings.

The Mayor said that the number of saplings planted was less important than the number of saplings that survive.

He said that the corporation would also give priority to building footpaths along the newly laid concrete roads. Mr. Marla said that Minister for Urban Development Vinay Kumar Sorake and Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada B. Ramanath Rai have supported his proposal of computerising all sections of the corporation in the next 10 months. Mr. Sorake had asked to send the proposal at the earliest for the approval.

The Mayor said that about 300 acres of land acquired by the government some years ago near Baikampady for industrial purpose was lying vacant now. It could be used for building a sports complex for the city. The KCCI should also take an initiative in convincing the government to allot the land for constructing the sports complex, he said.

President of the KCCI Mohammed Ameen felicitated Mr. Marla and Deputy Mayor Kavitha on the occasion and presented a memorandum listing out the industry body’s demands.

It said that the city corporation should make best use of the solid waste for power generation on the lines of Poona City Corporation.

The memorandum said that the civic body should identify new open areas for converting them as parks and children’s play area.