Gandhinagar: The capital of Gujarat is all set to blossom into a "city of flowers" under a beautification drive launched by the Gandhinagar administration.

Some 80,000 saplings, ranging from "gulmohar" to "jamun" (berry) and mango, are to be planted by the state forest department. The main streets will be beautified by growing roses, jasmine and mogra on their verges and dividers.

"We want to transform the entire township into a city of blossoming flowers," Gandhinagar collector (administrator) S.J. Haider told IANS. "We have launched a concerted drive to make the citizens conscious of the need to beautify the city. We have already distributed three million saplings free to residents to help them make their surroundings greener," he said.

The district administration had spent Rs 1.5 million on the effort last year.

A 'van mahotsava (forest festival)' is currently underway in the city. During this, special attention will be paid to beautifying gardens and the city's deer park, which also houses other animals like panthers and lions.

Special efforts are being made to rid the city of a fast-growing wild weed that the locals call gando bvaval. The forest department has also received a grant of Rs 112,000 for this purpose. The weed had already been cleared from 12 hectares in the past six months.

Many citizens, including Arun Buch, who is part of a private initiative that aims at improving the quality of life in the city, are doubtful whether this drive will yield results.

But Haider and the forest department officials are optimistic. "Soon, people will see only flowers everywhere in the city. We have already covered road dividers on the Sabarmati-Gandhinagar and Sarkhej-Gandhinagar roads," he says.

India Abroad News Service