The famous Tulip Garden, located at the foothills of the Zabarwan Mountains here has not only been recognized in the World Book of Records as Asia’s largest tulip garden, but it is proving to be a ‘goldmine’ for the Jammu and Kashmir government with the figures revealing that the garden has generated Rs 14.35 crore revenue in the year 2024, an all-time high since it was first inaugurated in 2007 by then J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad. The figures as well as the recognition indicate the government’s efforts in improving the infrastructure and making Jammu and Kashmir more attractive for the tourists across the globe. The garden is being kept ready now every year with 1.5 million bulbs and is home to 68 varieties of tulips, which points towards the hard work that is being made by the concerned department, especially the gardeners, who are taking care of the garden till the tulips bloom. With these hectic efforts, the garden is gaining attraction with each passing year. But, since Srinagar is home to the 120 parks, there is a need for a lot more effort to make every garden capable of ensuring the rush of tourists like other prominent gardens. With 120 parks and 240.34 hectares of land under floriculture, Srinagar dominates the sector in J&K. As the number of gardens has increased, the government needs to take apt measures to make sure that the revenue is generated from each and every park so that the land covered under it is not wasted. The time has come when the initiatives are to be taken in this regard so that more revenue is generated, which can also help in reducing the liabilities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Water security a permanent priority
Amidst the intense heatwave, a parallel crisis of water scarcity has once again gripped the Valley, leaving thousands of households...