The amount concerned here is a whopping Rs 2 crores. The VMC will be planting 300,000 saplings over the next three years under the `Green Vadodara 1998' project, according to a decision by Mayor Ratilal Desai and Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria. Around 100,000 saplings will be planted each year in housing societies, public roads, parks and gardens, schools and crematoria, among other places.

Desai said five to six feet tall saplings would be planted along roadsides. Come the monsoons and 5,000 saplings will be planted along the roads, 30,000 in parks and gardens -- including the Ajwa and Nimeta gardens -- 30,000 at the Tarsali, Gajrawadi and Atladra sewage treatment plants and 9,500 in ward offices, civic dispensaries, community halls and atithi gruhs.Some 12,000 treeguards will be constructed for immediate use.Another 2,00 saplings will be planted in crematoria and 8,000 in green spaces to be adopted by non-government organisations. In the water works department, 5,000 saplings will be planted in the first year.Twenty-five main roads and 80 societies are expected to be covered in the initial stages of the programme.