Chandigarh MC to hold symbolic Rose Festival this year

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 27

Due to Covid-19, no events will be held during the Rose Festival this year. Only symbolic opening of the event will be held at Rose Garden, the festival venue in Sector 16. However, various varieties of roses will be on display.

This was decided by the General House of the MC in a meeting today. The fest will be dedicated to Covid frontline warriors. They will also be honoured on the occasion.

Earlier, MC Commissioner KK Yadav told the House that it can decide whether to hold the event or not. He said it was a national-level event and could be organised through online pre-registration option for visitors to limit numbers. However, most councillors were against the move.

Leader of Opposition Devinder Singh Babla said since one lakh people come to this event, the MC would not be able to manage them. He said Rs89 lakh to be spent on the event should be spent on development of wards.

Other councillors, including Satish Kainth, Arun Sood, Rajesh Kalia and Asha Jaswal, too expressed their opposition against holding the fest. Sood said, “I do not think we will able to hold the event by following Covid-safety guidelines.”

The MC had last year cancelled Chrysanthemum Show, which is held in Terraced Garden annually, in view of the pandemic.