SDMC to hire 900 new gardeners by December

Over 900 new gardeners would be employed by South Delhi Municipal Corporation over the next month, doubling their existing strength.
SDMC has over 6,400 small to large-sized parks under its jurisdiction, and the move is likely to give a boost to the civic body's bid in maintaining its horticultural facilities.
"The standing committee has already approved the decision and by December first week, we will start hiring new gardeners through private firms. Over 900 of them in total would be hired by next month end," a senior SDMC official told PTI.
SDMC has four zones -- South, Central, West and Najafgarh -- under its jurisdiction, and currently employs about 900 gardeners or 'maalis'.

"With over 900 more maalis, we will be doubling their strength. But the hiring would happen in a phased-manner and not one-time manner," the official said.
Among its four zones, SDMC has big parks in areas like Vasant Kunj, Greater Kailash, Jangpura.

"Parks of over 3-acre in size are designated as big parks and we have been maintaining them, but this extra strength of workers would help render the horticultural services better, not to mention, improve the look of the city," he added.
South Delhi also has many parks and commercial properties under other authorities such as the DDA, and some of these parks and properties are now being transferred to the civic body of the area concerned.

Some of the big parks under DDA in south Delhi include Aastha Kunj Park in Kailash Hills adjoining ISKCON temple and Netaji Park near Defence Colony.