High-maintenance Mexican grass on Vidhana Soudha lawns to go

Bengaluru: The govt is planning to gradually shrink the area covered by Mexican grass at Vidhana Soudha due to sustainability concerns and manpower constraints. Discussions are under way to cut coverage to a third of the existing area. Of the 27-acre garden area at the 70-year-old Soudha, about four acres are currently covered by Mexican grass, while the rest comprise hedges and shaped trees. "This grass is used in VVIP areas such as along the sides of Kengal Hanumanthaiah statue at the north gate," said Gangappa S Hombal, assistant director (horticulture), Vidhana Soudha. "While it was once widespread across the lawns, it is sensitive to harsh weather and trampling, making it difficult to maintain. At present, only about 30% of lawns are covered with Mexican grass, largely procured from private nurseries in Devanahalli. The remaining 70% consists of more robust varieties — pearl grass and buffalo grass — which are widely cultivated in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh." Mexican grass is also prone to weeds. Pearl grass, which has a similar appearance, is more resilient. Resources required to maintain gardens have been in focus during meetings to prepare for summer. The department uses approximately 13.3 lakh litres of water per week to maintain the gardens. Monsoon provides some respite as consumption drops nearly fourfold to about 2.8 lakh litres per week. Water sources include Cauvery, borewells and treated sewage supplied by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board. With only 20% of the sanctioned 50 labourers currently in place — and several staff members set to retire by 2031 — the department is pushing to make the gardens as low-maintenance as possible. "We are hopeful of fresh appointments," Hombal said. "Currently, sprinklers cover most lawn areas, while gardeners manually hose remaining spaces. We need manpower even for basic upkeep."