LUCKNOW, June 7 -- Half a dozen of the saplings planted by urban development minister AK Sharma and other officials at Laxman Mela Ground disappeared on Friday, just a day after the plantation drive, raising serious questions over the Lucknow Municipal Corporation's (LMC) planning and execution.

The plantation was part of a major event on World Environment Day, Ganga Dussehra, and the birthday of chief minister Yogi Adityanath, on Thursday. Officials had planted over 30 saplings at the site.

Of the 10 saplings planted in a row -- each protected by tree guards -- by minister Sharma, mayor Sushma Kharakwal and municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar, only four remained by Friday morning.

A ground report by HT on Friday morning revealed six e...