Dhaka south and north city corporations have taken a number of projects to bring their open spaces under greenery coverage through massive plantations as the capital is gradually getting denuded of its greeneries due to unplanned development works.

The Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and the North City Corporation (DNCC) will rejuvenate their existing parks and beautify footbridges and main thoroughfares with tress and flowering plants.

Besides, they are focusing on bringing most houses under rooftop gardening by encouraging people with holding tax rebate and providing logistic supports like soil, pots and fertilisers. The two corporations will also launch drives to motivate people to plant trees at their open spaces.

Though a livable city should have 25 percent greeneries of its total area, the capital has barely five percent greeneries for lack of regular plantation and maintenance of the existing ones, and unplanned urbanisation, said Dr Mohhamed Shafiul Alam, a teacher of Chittagong University's Institute of Forestry and Environmental Sciences.

Green activist Mokarram Hossain, also organising secretary of Taru Pallab, a nature study organisation, said when the greeneries are gradually disappearing from DSCC, the situation in DNCC looks appalling as most parts of its extended areas, including Mirpur and Uttara, are almost barren.

Contacted, DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq said they are aware of the situation and working out various short- and long-term plans to boost greeneries in the capital.

DNCC chief waste management officer Capt Dipon Kumar Shaha said, “We've been trying to plant trees in open spaces.” Besides, the DNCC has floated a tender for beautification of around 46 roads by planting trees, he said.

DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon said they have also taken steps to improve 21 parks under the city corporation and beautify main roads with various local flowering plants.

DSCC Superintendent Engineer Asaduzzaman said the city corporation is now giving a clearance letter for high-rises from the 11th floor to upward with a condition of making rooftop gardening.