Srinagar, Jun 06 (KNO): In an innovative step towards sustainable urban beautification, the Floriculture Department, Kashmir, has developed an eco-friendly themed garden in the heart of Lal Chowk Srinagar’s Polo Ground Park, by creatively reusing discarded material under the Swachh Bharat Mission’s 3R concept of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
The initiative, led by Director Floriculture Kashmir Masooma Banoo, aims to promote environmental awareness while simultaneously creating a new attraction for tourists and local visitors in one of the busiest public spaces of the city.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the Director said the project was conceptualised to give a new life to old unused material lying in departmental gardens while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the area.
“This garden has multiple purposes. Apart from providing a recreational space for people, it also sends a strong message about the reuse of waste material and environmental responsibility,” she said.
Banoo said various discarded items collected from department gardens were transformed into decorative planters and artistic installations through innovative designs.
“All the material used here was lying unused in our gardens. We converted the scrap into planters and decorative structures and installed them here to create an added attraction,” she said.
She said the department plans to plant colourful flowers and ornamental plants in these recycled structures to further beautify the garden and make it visually appealing for visitors.
The Director said Lal Chowk witnesses heavy footfall throughout the day, making it an ideal location for such a public awareness initiative.
“There is always a huge rush in this area. Children visit the playstations while adults come here for walks and relaxation. We wanted people to experience something creative and meaningful at the same time,” she added.
She further said the garden has also been designed to encourage people to rethink the way they treat household waste.
“The message is simple—before throwing away unused items, people should think whether they can be reused creatively. Waste can be transformed into something beautiful and useful,” she said.
Highlighting the tourism aspect of the project, Banoo said several traditional Kashmiri elements have been incorporated into the garden to showcase the Valley’s cultural heritage before visitors.
“We have tried to include Kashmir-centric elements in the installations. Traditional Kashmiri ‘Daans’, old wooden structures and decorative Waguv-inspired items have been used artistically with flowers planted around them,” she said.
The Director said the initiative is aimed at giving tourists a glimpse of Kashmir’s traditional aesthetics while creating a unique urban attraction in the city centre.
The eco-garden has already started drawing attention from visitors at Lal Chowk, with many appreciating the blend of creativity, environmental awareness and traditional Kashmiri themes—(KNO)