Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Tuesday visited the New Delhi Municipal Council’s nursery at Lodhi Garden and reviewed their efforts to grow tulips locally, with the civic body planning to plant three lakh bulbs in its area in the coming season.
For the forthcoming season, around 4.67 lakh tulip bulbs are planned to be procured for the NDMC and Delhi Development Authority (DDA) areas.
This includes three lakh bulbs for the NDMC area and 1.67 lakh for the DDA.
The NDMC has also begun efforts to reduce its dependence on imported tulip bulbs by growing and storing them locally.
The initiative, started in 2022, has yielded around 40,000 bulbs of different sizes over the previous seasons, which are currently stored at its tulip growth-cum-storage chamber at Lodhi Garden, according to an official statement.
Of these, around 24,000 bulbs will be planted across the NDMC area, while the remaining bulbs will be used for trials to improve their size through controlled growth.
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During his visit, Sandhu inspected the high-tech nursery, tulip growth and storage chamber, composting facilities, cactus house and machinery used for horticultural maintenance.
The LG said the initiative could serve as an example for other agencies to promote their cultivation, the statement said.
The NDMC is also planning to develop a tulip garden at Nehru Park this year. Tulips will also be planted at prominent locations such as Shanti Path lawns, 11 Murti and various roundabouts. The civic body will also sell tulips in pots to the public.
Tulips were first introduced in the NDMC area in 2017-18, when around 17,000 bulbs were planted. Their plantation has increased over the years.
Sandhu also inspected the high-tech nursery, spread over around 300 square metres, which has the capacity to produce 18,000-20,000 plants per cycle, with four production cycles annually.
The cactus house at the nursery has around 400 specimens of different varieties of cacti and succulents.
He also witnessed the functioning of the NDMC’s tree ambulance, which is equipped to treat diseased trees through the spraying of insecticides, pesticides and fungicides. The vehicle also carries equipment for tree surgery, including the treatment of trees with hollow trunks, and machinery such as power chain saws and tree pruners.
During the visit, the lieutenant governor distributed sweets among the horticulture department’s ground staff and appreciated their contribution to maintaining the area’s green spaces.
The NDMC organises tulip and flower festivals every spring, with floral displays at locations such as Shanti Path, Central Park, Lodhi Garden, Nehru Park, Mandi House and Windsor Place.
