NDMC Launches Extensive Plantation Drive to Enhance Green Cover in Lutyens' Delhi

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has initiated a significant plantation drive aimed at increasing the green cover in Lutyens' Delhi. This initiative is a response to the continuous loss of green cover in recent years, with the NDMC losing 1,813 trees, including around 300 heritage trees, between 2015 and 2021. The drive focuses on planting tulip bulbs and other greenery to revitalize the city's aesthetic and environmental quality.

The NDMC's plantation drive involves the planting of over 3.25 lakh tulip bulbs across various locations in Lutyens' Delhi. Key areas selected for this initiative include Shanti Path, Akbar Road, Nyay Marg, and Chanakyapuri. The tulips, sourced from the Netherlands, are expected to bloom within 30–40 days of planting, providing a vibrant display by the end of January or early February.

In addition to the imported bulbs, the NDMC has preserved and is utilizing tulip bulbs from previous years. Approximately 18,000 tulips are being grown locally at the NDMC's advanced propagation chamber in Lodhi Garden, and over 50,000 preserved seeds from last year's plantation cycle are being regenerated at the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology in Palampur.

To support the growing scale of the initiative, the NDMC is expanding its climate-controlled tulip storage and propagation facilities at Lodhi Garden. The upgraded facility will soon be able to hold up to 36,000 bulbs at a time, up from its current capacity of 20,000.

The plantation is set to begin in mid-December, with the tulips expected to bloom within 30–40 days, offering a spectacular display by the end of January or early February. The NDMC teams are actively surveying the city to identify new locations for the plantation, ensuring adequate water supply and minimal traffic to facilitate the successful growth of the flowers.

Conclusion: The NDMC's plantation drive is a proactive step towards enhancing the green cover in Lutyens' Delhi. By planting tulips and other greenery, the initiative aims to restore the city's aesthetic appeal and environmental quality. The efforts to preserve and regenerate tulip bulbs from previous years further demonstrate the NDMC's commitment to sustainability and long-term urban greening.