Kuljeet Singh Chahal Announces Tulip Plantation Drive in New Delhi
New Delhi: Kuljeet Singh Chahal, Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), announced on Wednesday that tulip bulbs imported from the Netherlands have arrived and are ready for planting. Chahal stated that the plantation process would commence on Thursday, with the bulbs being planted at various prominent locations across New Delhi.
He proudly revealed that this year NDMC has imported 5.5 lakh tulip bulbs, of which 3.25 lakh are allocated to NDMC, 2 lakh to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and 25,000 to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
Additionally, NDMC successfully preserved 50% of last year’s tulip bulbs at a special conservation center, the ‘Tulip House,’ located in Lodhi Garden. Approximately 22,000 bulbs of varying sizes from this conservation effort have been planted in different areas.
Chahal detailed the locations where the tulips will be planted, including Shantipath, Central Park in Connaught Place, the Convention Centre, Lodhi Garden, Talkatora Garden, Sardar Patel Marg, Mandi House, Windsor Place, Sher Shah Suri Marg, the Vice President’s House roundabout, and the Sunehri Masjid roundabout.
He added that, as a new initiative this year, tulips will also be planted in pots to enhance the city’s aesthetic appeal. The tulips are expected to bloom from February, adorning the city with vibrant hues of white, yellow, red, pink, orange, purple, and mixed colors.
Overcoming Challenges:
Tulips require a minimum cold temperature of 5°C for at least two months to break dormancy and sprout. To address this challenge, NDMC has procured pre-treated and pre-programmed bulbs that can thrive even in unpredictable weather conditions.
Chahal highlighted that NDMC began tulip planting in 2017-18 with a pilot of 17,000 bulbs, which proved to be a great success. This initiative made NDMC the first municipal body in India to plant tulips in public spaces, a practice previously confined to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Part of a Broader Mission:
Chahal emphasized that the tulip plantation aligns with NDMC’s mission to create a clean, green, and vibrant city. The council maintains 1,450 acres of green space, including iconic parks such as Nehru Park, Central Park, and Sanjay Lake.
“Tulips not only enhance the beauty of Lutyens’ Delhi but also provide residents and visitors with a positive and delightful experience. These flowers contribute to reducing air and dust pollution as well,” Chahal concluded.