Bhubaneswar: The civic body has not planted a single tree in the city in the past one year.

The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation issued a shocking public disclosure on its official website on Thursday where it has mentioned that it had not spend a single penny on plantation in the 2016-17 financial year.

The Telegraph reported about the rapid loss of greenery in the city on March 20, mainly focusing on the poor upkeep of median plantation by the municipal corporation. Trees planted on road medians are dying in the absence of care and periodic watering.

"Bhubaneswar has witnessed a steep rise in mercury in past few years. Climate change can only be controlled with more plantation and adopting various other environment-friendly activities. It is sad that our civic body is not focusing on that," said Ajay Padhi, a resident of IRC Village.

He added that the civic body should focus on increasing the city's green cover.

As per the disclosure issued by the civic body, it had planted 2,976 saplings in 2015-16, which was increased from 1,400 saplings planted during 2014-15. Nearly, 1,000 saplings were planted during 2013-14 and 2012-13 respectively while 824 saplings were planted during 2011-12.

A senior civic official, however, claimed that they helped private agencies and voluntary organisations take steps to increase the green cover of the city throughout the year.

"Many median plantations are being maintained by private agencies," he said, refusing to come on record.

City residents slammed the civic body for shying away from addressing the environmental question of the hour.

"The civic body should itself take active participation in maintaining the city's greenery instead of depending on voluntary organisations. They should think of the future of the city and its residents, of which afforestation is an integral part," said Unit-III resident Mamata Mohapatra.