CM bats for planting medicinal herbs

New Delhi, Feb 18 (PTI) After spearheading an initiaveto substantially increasing the green cover in Delhi, ChiefMinister Sheila Dikshit now wants to see medicinal plantsacross the city.

Dikshit suggested plantation of medicinal plants afterinaugurating the 24th Garden Tourism Festival at the Garden ofFive Senses at Said-ul-Ajaib in South Delhi.

"We are faced with so many lifestyle diseases thesedays. Instead of popping up a pill we should go for herbalremedies," Dikshit said.

The theme of this year''s garden festival is herbs forhappiness and a variety of plants having medicinal value wereput up in the exhibition apart from a range of flowersincluding bougainvillea and dahlia.

The annual festival provides a great platform forgarden lovers to meet, interact and showcase their fruit oflabour.

As part of the festival, competitions have beenorganised in 32 categories that included potted plants, Dahliapotted plants, hanging Baskets, Foliage plants, Cactus andSucculents, aromatic/herbal and medicinal plants, bonsaiplants, bougainvillea, floral animals, cut flowers in earthenvases and roses.

A separate segment to sell the plants, horticultureequipments, pesticides and fertilizers has also been put up aspart of the three-day festival.

On the spot painting competition, magic shows,cultural programmes are also being organised as part of theprogramme.