Welcome to New Delhi’s gardens of power this Valentine Day!

WOULD like relax at the nearest point of power corridors of Raisina Hill? Yes, you can come and visit the Mughal Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan including the Musical Garden, Spiritual Garden, Herbal Garden and Biodiversity Park, which are being opened for viewing by the general public from February 13 to March 11. The gardens will be open to the general public on all days from 10 am to 5 pm, except on Mondays.

For those not so familiar with the site, the garden is situated near all important government landmarks including Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), ministries of defence, home, finance, personnel and external affairs.

This year the special attraction will be the Cactus corner and a Bonsai segment. A Rashtrapati Bhavan release said, Bonsai lovers would be able to enjoy a collection of such plants, which are on special display. The gardens are also known for annual flowers such as enlivening roses, lilies, tulips, double pansy flowers and eye-catching velvet green lawns intercepted with lotus shaped fountains and blue base water canals.

The Mughal Gardens, contiguous to the main building of Rashtrapati Bhavan cover an area of 15 acres. They were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens who was inspired by the beautiful gardens of Jammu and Kashmir, the garden around the Taj Mahal and Persian and Indian miniature paintings. The central lawn is the venue of numerous receptions and “At Homes” hosted by the President of India.

(In Picture: President Ms Pratibha Devisingh Patil with the flower Tulips at Mughal Garden of Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on February 12, 2010)

Action and Appointments

a) The Punjab government on Friday transferred 11 IAS officers, 11 IPS and two Punjab civil services officers in the state. Suresh Kumar, IAS, has been posted as principal secretary, technical education and industrial training and is given additional charge of the chairman of Punjab State Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training. Mandeep Singh Sandhu, IAS, has been appointed as principal secretary of school education.

b) Chhattisgarh government today transferred eight IPS officers and a state police officer. IG Anand Tiwari who was with Police headquarters would now be IG (training). The other officers who were transferred include RK Vij, Rajesh Mishra, RC Patel, SK Jha and Anand Chabra among others.