‘Bharat Vann’ project launched to boost Mysuru’s green cover

A street in Mysuru. Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the urban greening initiative by planting a sapling at K.C. Layout Park. | Photo Credit: File photo In a major urban greening initiative, two lakh native saplings will be planted across Mysuru under the ‘Bharat Vann’ project, launched by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Mysuru on November 13.The initiative, supported by the State Bank of India (SBI) and SBI Foundation under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, aims to expand the city’s green cover and improve its urban environment.Ms. Sitharaman inaugurated the project by planting a sapling at K.C. Layout Park. The initiative is being implemented under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, in collaboration with Catch Foundation and Enviro Creators Foundation.Of the two lakh saplings proposed to be planted across the city, 45,000 native saplings will come up on 4.5 acres at K.C. Layout Park. Catch Foundation will undertake plantation of 40,000 saplings across four acres, while Enviro Creators Foundation will plant 5,000 saplings on the remaining half-acre.Plantation activities are also being taken up in six parks in Vijayanagar Fourth Stage, which were inaugurated through video-conferencing. The two implementing organisations have each taken up the responsibility of planting one lakh native saplings, taking the total to two lakh.The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) is supporting the initiative by providing land in its parks and ensuring water facilities for plantation and maintenance.Three-year maintenance commitmentA key feature of the project is the commitment by the implementing organisations to nurture, maintain and protect all two lakh saplings for three years to ensure their survival and healthy growth.The initiative is expected to strengthen biodiversity, enhance carbon sequestration, reduce dust and air pollution, moderate local temperatures and improve the city’s urban ecosystem.More than 1,000 schoolchildren participated in the plantation activities across the two programmes, with the aim of spreading environmental awareness and a sense of responsibility towards nature among the younger generation.Mysuru and Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, Minister in-charge of Mysuru district Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLA T. S. Srivatsa, MLCs K. Vivekananda and Manje Gowda, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikantha Reddy, Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, MCC Commissioner M.K. Savita, senior officials, representatives of SBI and SBI Foundation, and members of the implementing organisations were present. More than 500 schoolchildren participated in the inaugural programme. Published - November 13, 2026 12:21 pm IST