DEHRADUN: Amid much fanfare and support from thousands of people, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had led a plantation drive on July 22, which saw as many as 2.5 lakh saplings being planted on the banks of the Rispana river.The drive was carried out at regular intervals from the catchment area of Shikhar Falls to Mothrowala and Daudwala areas of the state capital.However, just five months later, the saplings planted in and around the Mothrowala area present a gloomy picture.Around 10,000 saplings in the area have either dried up or have been grazed by cattle, residents said.With no guards or volunteers to safeguard the saplings, the fate of the saplings is not surprising, say locals.“For such big campaigns, the state government should have taken adequate measures to protect the saplings," said Ntin Kumar, a resident.Moreover, with a liquor shop nearby, smashed beer bottles and cans can also be spotted on the land where the saplings were planted, another local resident said.Recently, retired Colonel Hariraj Singh Rana of Eco Task Force had also expressed concern over the condition of the saplings and stressed on the need to rope in more youngsters for the campaign.Director of Uttarakhand Science Education and Research Centre Durgesh Pant said, “The saplings planted near the catchment area are fine as they are inside a boundary wall. However, the same cannot be said for the saplings in lower areas as they need monitoring."When contacted, an official associated with the chief minister’s office, said, “Wrong and misleading information is being spread. The saplings near Rispana do not require regular watering and are in good condition. Over two lakh saplings were planted on July 22 and there is always a possibility of some getting damaged. Apart from that, the project remains a success.”

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