Though the civic body has been distributing and planting lakhs of saplings to increase the city's green cover, lack of care has thwarted the very aim of the endeavour. Only 20% of the nearly 1.5 lakh saplings that KMC parks department distributed last year to NGOs and individuals managed to survive. Eight in every 10 died for want of care.

The civic body tried to make up for the loss by opening camps in places like Shyambazar-Hatibagan crossing, College Street, New Market, Bhowanipore, Gariahat, Behala where saplings of a large variety of trees (including chhatim, krishnachura, radhachura, saal, palash and mahogany) were distributed. A year down the line, a survey by the KMC parks department found that a majority of the saplings planted in these areas have died. Again, for want of care.

It is not that care of these saplings is too costly. A tree guard and regular watering is sufficient to keep a sapling alive. However, as the KMC does not provide tree guards, NGOs, clubs and individuals do not buy them either.