Now cash-strapped MC to spend Rs 1.42 cr on shrubs and plants

Interestingly, the civic body will be purchasing these shrubs and plants which are available free of cost in the forest and even in their own nurseries.

4 min readChandigarhJul 24, 2020 10:31 AM IST

Now cash-strapped MC to spend Rs 1.42 cr on shrubs and plants

This fund was given by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Department under a national scheme to the civic body.
(Express photo)

Even as the civic body is struggling to meet its financial requirements, especially after a cut was imposed in the grant-in-aid due to COVID, Chandigarh Municipal Corporation will be splurging Rs 1.42 crore on purchasing and planting of different kinds of shrubs, decorative plants and ground covers on various V3 roads for greening activities.

Interestingly, the civic body will be purchasing these shrubs and plants which are available free of cost in the forest and even in their own nurseries.

This fund was given by the Chandigarh Pollution Control Department under a national scheme to the civic body.
Chief Conservator Forest Debendra Dalai stated that they had provided funds to the civic body under national clean air programme and greening.

“These funds were given under this campaign but I do not know at all where they are utilising it because they will just give us the utilisation certificate. Regarding the shrubs and plants, they too run their own nurseries. But I don’t know where all they are spending this. So, in that case I won’t be able to tell much,” he said.

Rahul Mahajan, a horticulturist, said that all shrubs specified here like chandni dwarf, hamelia and all others are with the forest department which they are giving for free to the public too.

In the detailed notice inviting tender (DNIT), as many as 52,570 such shrubs have been ordered with each costing Rs 80 and total coming out to be Rs 42.20 lakh.

Other than this, different types of ornamental plants, around 15,700 of them, worth Rs 39.25 lakh, other types of decorative plants. around 15,300 of them, worth Rs 53.50 lakh, ground covers worth Rs 2.50 lakh and other ground covers worth Rs 5.05 lakh have been asked for in the tender.

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“These plants could be procured from forest free of cost. Moreover, there is no water source on V3 roads. Watering with tankers is an impossible job,” he said.

Mahajan said that the present greens are getting water only by rainwater. “That is why their is no gap filling survival in last several years,” he said.

The horticulturist mentioned that this money was transferred to control PM 2.5 emission by tyres. “In the first place they have their own nursery too in Sector 29.

Also, they have specified the rate of each shrub as Rs 80. If we go to purchase it in market, it is available for Rs 15 each,” Mahajan added.

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Prem Garg, a resident, has written to the MC saying that they can do it even on no-profit-no-loss basis. “A tender for plantation in Chandigarh for Rs 1 crore has been floated. We can provide plants at minimum rates. As an NGO, we would like to do this project on no-profit-no-loss basis. As this money is from CPCC so this money can be properly utilised. We can do this project as a mission on actual cost basis,” he said.

MC Commissioner K K Yadav did not respond to phone calls and text messages.

A senior official of the corporation said that under the programme, they have to obtain a number of such plants and that could be done only by floating tender so that they get the best of plants for V3 roads.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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