Johl pitches for landscaping dept

Chandigarh: The story goes back to 1962. A young Hardial Singh Johl, who was an officer in-charge in Pinjore, was reading a book "Beautifying India" written by Dr M S Randhwa that described various trees. A man approached him and asked whether he knew who the author was, to which Johl honestly replied he did not. The man revealed his identity, saying he was Dr Randhawa.Johl says his first meeting with Randhawa was a few-minute affair.
Johl, who has been the former head of Chandigarh's landscape wing and adviser to Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority, was the chief guest for the tree meeting held by TOI on Saturday at Paryavaran Bhawan in Sector 19. He has worked extensively in the landscaping field and has worked alongside Randhawa, the pioneer for promotion of arts and culture and who gave city its lush landscape.
Johl has designed landscape projects, including Rose Garden, urban estates of Mohali, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala and Bathinda. He has worked in the landscaping field for a number of years and has penned down his experiences, coming out with a book, "Trees in Urban Habitat". The book talks about the most useful and beautiful trees in the country which he has observed in his five-decade long career.
Johl said, "The concept of planting trees is same all over the world, even though the climate may vary. That's the reason my books have found audiences abroad and are being sold in countries with different temperatures like the US, UK, Canada, France and Spain." He laid special emphasis on important role that trees play in physical environment. He said, "According to reports, trees can help in reducing heat, reducing pollution, help in velocity of rain and reduce noise. The reason there is so much pollution in Delhi is that Edwin Lutyens only landscaped a small part of Delhi."
Johl said, "We need a department of landscaping. Useless trees have been planted around the city; the road that leads from Sukhna Lake to Panjab University has about 37 different types of trees planted on it. But that is the wrong way. On one road, only one kind of trees should be planted."
He believes citizens need to understand landscaping is needed and that these trees, specifically the 10 most prominent varieties found in the city, are most essential and whatever new plantations is done only those trees are planted and nurseries should develop them with big trunks about 20 feet and then plant them restoring the green cover in the city. He added, "Density of trees is important, not diversity. When one road has to be planted with trees, it should be only of one kind, so that they are harmonious, interesting and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes."