BEAUTIFYING CHANDIGARH

Chandigarh 8212; the boldest experiment in town planning and architecture is now almost 60 years old and boasts of internationally acknowledged testimonials such as 8216;City Beautiful8217;.

Chandigarh 8212; the boldest experiment in town planning and architecture is now almost 60 years old and boasts of internationally acknowledged testimonials such as 8216;City Beautiful8217;. The credit for this goes, not only to the town planning and architecture, but also to its landscape design. In fact, Chandigarh is one of the few cities in the world with 8216;planned8217; landscaping.

Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret developed Chandigarh as an example for urban planning and architecture. The creation of Leisure Valley and Sukhna Lake highlights the work and vision of the two architects.

Now, it is high time that the future strategy for beautifying 50 per cent open spaces in Chandigarh be discussed. The Administration should actively consider the proposal of creating two more leisure valleys in the city. The same point was also emphasised by the experts who gathered at the recently organised International Conference on 8216;Emerging Trends in Landscape Architecture8217; by Saakaar Foundation.

The existing Leisure Valley has proved a boon for the residents. But its use remains mainly restricted to the adjoining or nearby Sectors like 3, 10, 16, 23 and 36. Even Albert Mayer, an American planner, recommended two such green valleys in his master plan for Chandigarh.

About 3,000 acres of the Sukhna choe and Patiala Ki Rao on the east and west of Chandigarh are lying neglected. Therefore, I believe that there is no need to acquire more agricultural land from poor farmers to create recreational places.

The proposed valleys can be sub-divided into subject-specific gardens like Children8217;s Park, Science Park and Memorial Gardens.

The Children8217;s Park can have several interesting features like slides, tunnels, climbing poles, bridges, ladders, see-saw and swings.

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The Science Park can be planned to exhibit India8217;s technological advancement which Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru dreamed of. Models of various rockets, planes and telescopes may be displayed along the meandering paths.

Green houses with indoor plants can also be constructed at suitable locations. In addition, some of the gardens can be designed as memorials for police personnel, victims of terrorists and freedom fighters.

In fact, experts like H S Johl have recommended that the new valleys should be landscaped on the pattern of the world-famous Butchart Gardens and Victoria BC in Canada. The new leisure valleys will be the greatest tribute to the builders of Chandigarh like Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, P S Kairon, M S Randhawa, Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry.

Hope the Chandigarh Administration will consider this proposal.