Trees of Chandigarh

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Chandigarh, one of the greatest experiments in urban planning of the 20th century, is today as much famous for its landscaping, as it is for its architecture. An important feature of its planning was the recognition accorded to landscaping as an integral component of its master plan from the very inception. Today, Chandigarh presents a visual delight of a harmonious blend of buildings, trees and other landscape elements embellishing the skyline. Thus, it was significant that the valuable lessons obtained from the tree plantation experience of Chandigarh, be recorded and preserved for posterity. Therefore, this book is an attempt to bring together in a single volume basic information about the tree plantation of Chandigarh. The book is broadly divided into two components. The first component comprises critical essays on the inception, planning and the actual results as visible today, of Chandigarh's tree plantation; and the second component is a directory of major tree species growing in Chandigarh, to enable their easy identification in the city. Nearly 200 colour pictures supplement the text to make the book more useful. It has been designed primarily for the lay reader with a keen interest in: where, why and what trees exist in Chandigarh; and how they integrate with its overall landscape. It is in fact, a user-friendly reference book for all tree loving people of Chandigarh and elsewhere.

Chhatar Singh is a retired civil servant and an avowed nature lover. This book was born at his initiative during his stint as Deputy Commissioner of Chandigarh when he led a mass campaign to revitalize the City's ecological heritage. Presently he is a Member of the Union Public Service Commission, New Delhi. Prof Rajnish Wattas former Principal of the Chandigarh College of Architecture is a noted landscape expert, architectural critic and writer. Besides Trees of Chandigarh he has co authored Sukhna-Sublime Lake of Chandigarh and published widely on Chandigarh's urban landscape, planning and architecture. He is a well known freelance writer and photographer with numerous contributions to leading newspapers and journals. He is on various apex bodies of architecture and environmental issues and one of the experts who formulated Chandigarh Master Plan-2031. Dr Harjit Singh Dhillon former Executive Engineer, Chandigarh Administration holds a M.Sc. in Landscaping & Floriculture and PhD in Botany. His vast experience in designing. development and maintenance of city parks, theme gardens, avenue plantation and raising nurseries Includes six years in the Sultanate of Oman as its Horticulture Consultant for the Royal estales. Lately he has been engaged with landscaping of golf courses, educational institutions, real estate

This book is essentially a labour of love and would have never come to fruition but for the kind support and encouragement by Shri Jagdish Sagar, Adviser to the Administrator. U.T. Chandigarh and Shri S K Gathwal, Secretary Environment. They were generous enough to include the publication of this work, as part of the various activities planned for celebrating 50 years of India's Independence by the Chandigarh Administration. Special thanks are also due to Smt Anuradha Gupta, Home Secretary, who too took a very keen interest in this project. We are also grateful to Shri Pradeep Mehra, former Adviser to the Administrator, U.T. Chandigarh, for nurturing this work in its early stages. However, the main responsibility of getting this work completed eventually was borne by Shri H S Sohal. Director Environment and Shri PJS Dadhwal, Scientist 'SE. Special thanks are due to Shri S K Midha, Chief Architect & Secretary Department of Urban Planning. for providing various drawings and sketches of the city for publication in this book. We are also grateful to Shri Jatinder Kumar Verma, P.A., Environment Department for meticulously and patiently typing the various drafts of the manuscript of the book. In the early stages of this work, a lot of typing work was also done by Shri Ghansham Dass and Shri Parveen Kumar. Special thanks to Shri Hardev Singh. Executive Engineer, Horticulture who provided a lot of valuable information and help in producing this book. Thanks are also due to Dr SC Dhawan, Professor, Punjab Engineering College for providing useful maps etc. Last but not the least, we the authors, owe special thanks to our respective "better-halfs" who endured many evenings alone, while we were happily involved with our fond love affair with the beautiful trees of Chandigarh.

Chandigarh, one of the greatest experiments in urban planning of the 20th century, is today as much famous for its landscaping as it is for its architecture. An important feature of its planning was the recognition accorded to landscaping as an integral component of its master plan from the very inception. Today, it presents a visual delight to the human eye with a harmonious blend of buildings, trees and other landscape elements embellishing the skyline. It embodies a happy co-existence of a man-made world with the all-pervading ambience of nature. Urban landscaping consists primarily of using natural elements, such as earth forms. water features and vegetation. Chandigarh is blessed with the beautiful backdrop of the Shivalik hills whose breathtaking silhouette seems to have been designed by the divine hands of nature herself. The sensitive manner in which the various landscaping elements have been interrelated in the city, enhance their aesthetic value. But the most fascinating feature of the city's landscaping is, perhaps, the tree plantation along the avenues, open spaces and around building complexes where they not only provide shade, but also adorn their surroundings with changing hues of blossoms and leaves round the year. It is these trees and other plantations which transform the otherwise prosaic built-forms into humanized edifices. At the same time, they are the timeless symbols of our cultural life and heritage.

At the time of inauguration of the Chandigarh Capital Project in 1953, Dr M S Randhawa, ICS, a renowned administrator a lover of art, who in the later years became the first Chief Commissioner of Chandigarh, said: "Chandigarh the Capital of new Punjab, is already born... The young city like a new baby is waiting to be clothed in a mantle of vegetation." Since then and over a period of more than 45 years, tree plantation in Chandigarh has come of age. Well laid-out gardens and parks have come up, which apart from being useful to the citizens, are also a major attraction for the tourists. A number of beautiful avenues. with conspicuous tree species, enhance the overall impact of the city's landscape. The usefulness of trees along the major roads and pedestrian pathways can hardly be over emphasized. Well-wooded forests along the periphery of the city and greenbelts running across its length and breadth further heighten the environmental and aesthetic richness of the place. Urban planners from various parts of the country and abroad come here to study its landscaping, especially the tree plantation. Thus, a time has come when the valuable lessons learnt from the tree plantation of Chandigarh need to be recorded and preserved for posterity. It was with this intention that the authors decided to undertake a study of the Chandigarh trees and present the results in the form of a book. The present volume is an attempt to bring together under a single cover basic Information about the tree plantation in Chandigarh. It has been designed primarily for the lay reader having an interest in: where, why and what trees exist in Chandigarh and how they integrate with its overall landscape. It is, in fact, a user-friendly reference book for the tree-loving people of Chandigarh and even others.

**Contents and Sample Pages**