Environment

Even Commonwealth Game (CWG) 2010 is being touched with fragance of nature.The latest buzz is Himachal Pradesh will supply its exotic flowers to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games. The state has secured an order worth Rs 31 crore for the purpose.The estimated 1.53 lakh flower pots across the five stadium and beautiful décor at all important venues will have predominantly Himachali flowers.

                          It may be noted that Himachal has been already awarded orders above Rs 30 crore for supply of flowers by CPWD Delhi, while private procurement is estimated to be around Rs 42 crore. It is estimated that in the Games season alone, Himachal will be supplying nearly 23 crore flower spikes to Delhi.
                                   Himachal currently grows marigolds, carnations, tulips, lilies, gladioli, chrysanthemums and roses. Last year, over 680 hectares of land was under flower cultivation with at least 3,000 farmers making a business of Rs 45 crore. Carnations and roses will be in big demand during the Games.Till now, districts like Solan, Sirmaur, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra and Chamba have taken a lead in the cultivation of best varieties of flowers. With farmers switching over to polyhouses, Bilaspur is now way ahead in the race.
                 “This is a big opportunity for us, which we will have to encash. The Horticulture department is compiling a district-wise list of growers who can get direct orders for supplying flowers during the Games,” said state’s Horticulture Minister Narinder Bragta.In Chamba, the Churah Valley Farmers Cooperative, which has already made its name in the cultivation and marketing of flowers from the state’s most backward block, is likely to get a big share of the orders.

Photo via flickr.com