Gardeners to get specialized training

The unsung maalis of NDMC will soon turn into trained professionals with the civic body planning a school for them. This will be a part of several innovative measures in the run up to the Commonwealth Games to add to the splendor of green cover under its area.

School of Gardening

The civic body is setting up a ‘school’ for updating the skills of 1,100 gardeners through a variety of basic and advanced-level courses. NDMC plans to rope in botanists and horticulture experts from Pusa Institute, Forest Research Institute and National Botanical Research Institute to train the gardeners in plant preservation, nursery management, soil science etc.

Said Subhash Chandra, director, horticulture, ‘‘We have sent our gardeners for interactions with experts to different organizations in the past. But now we will have our own training ground. Gardeners will get a certificate on completion of the course.’’ The school may also open its doors to all those interested in gardening.

Commonwealth Park

A plant from each country participating in Commonwealth Games will be planted in this park coming up at Africa Avenue on a 2.5acre land. Work has already started on this project costing Rs 92.22 lakh and will be completed by August. The park will comprise lawns, wooded area and hedges, shrubs, flowerbeds, Lilypond, footpath, benches and other essential amenities for visitors. NDMC chairperson Parimal Rai said: ‘‘We have written to the Organizing Committee to arrange plants from each of the 72 countries. The plant should survive Delhi’s climatic condition or else we will ask participating countries to suggest a plant which is locally available.’’

OC spokesperson Lalit Bhanot said: ‘‘Members of participating countries are coming to Delhi for a conference on March 8. We have requested them to bring a plant with them.’’

Bougainvillea Garden

To add a dash of color to its greens, NDMC has proposed to set up a garden full of different types of Bougainvillea in Chanakyapuri near the Singapore Embassy. Bougainvillea, which is believed to have its origins in Brazil, will certainly add to NDMC’s landscape. ‘‘We will try and procure as many varieties ofBougainvillea as possible. We are also thinking of contacting the Bougainvillea Society of India for setting up the garden,’’ said Chandra.

Flower Park at Nehru Park

A section of Nehru Park will be developed into a flower park which will have seasonal flowering plants of winter, spring, summer and autumn as well as perennial flowering shrubs. Work has already started on this project.