Srinagar, J & K : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday inaugurated Srinagar’s first ‘Waste to Wonder Flower Garden’ at the Floriculture Park in Polo View, highlighting the creative reuse of discarded materials in developing attractive public spaces.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a Floriculture Mela, where flower growers, nursery owners and entrepreneurs from across Kashmir displayed ornamental and herbal plants, pots, terrariums, floral decorations, cut flowers, gifts, machinery and other products associated with floriculture.

Interacting with the exhibitors, Omar appreciated their innovative approaches and business models and encouraged them to expand their activities while exploring fresh commercial opportunities in the floriculture sector.

The Chief Minister later visited the Waste to Wonder Garden, which features a range of installations created from discarded, recycled and refurbished materials. These include a vintage Ambassador car, Kashmiri tonga, floral boat, scooter, heritage jeep, tractor, old tyres and several other reclaimed objects.

Omar described the project as an initiative aimed at promoting recycling and reuse, saying it demonstrates how discarded items can be transformed and given a new purpose through creativity and imagination.

“This is an effort by the Department of Floriculture to show people that almost anything can be reused if you have the thought and imagination to do so,” he said.

He noted that the initiative carries particular significance as solid and plastic waste management has become a major challenge. He urged people to consider whether an item can be reused or recycled before disposing of it.

The Chief Minister also called for simple steps to reduce plastic waste, including using reusable shopping bags instead of accepting new plastic bags from shops.

“That is the message behind this garden, and I hope people will come here, enjoy it and also take this message back with them,” he said.
Developed on the principles of Reduce, Recycle and Reuse (RRR), the garden has utilised nearly 90 per cent recycled and refurbished materials in its construction.

The facility has also been designed as an all-season attraction, with carefully selected plants and staggered flowering periods planned to ensure continuous blooms from spring until late autumn.
Omar also reviewed the future development of the Chrysanthemum Garden and said experience gained during its first season could help improve and expand the attraction in the coming season.

Drawing a comparison with Srinagar’s Tulip Garden, he said it too had initially started on a smaller scale before being expanded with additional features over time.

“We will continue to add to and improve the Chrysanthemum Garden,” he said. The Chief Minister further advised the Floriculture Department to visit Chandigarh and study similar Waste to Wonder projects to explore how the concept could be further developed in Jammu and Kashmir. He said a larger initiative based on the concept could eventually become another attraction for tourists visiting the UT.

Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, MLA Bani Dr Rameshwar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Culture Brij Mohan Sharma, Commissioner Secretary Floriculture, Gardens & Parks Zubair Ahmad, Director Floriculture, Gardens & Parks Kashmir Mathora Masoom and other officials were present during the event.

Report By – Mudasir Maqbool