The Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started identifying land in all of the 35 wards of the metropolis to build gardens under its “one ward-one garden” programme.

Chief and executive officer of KMC Rudra Singh Tamang had earlier announced the programme during the 27th Municipal Council meeting last month. The plan was well received by the denizens of Kathmandu as the Capital utterly lacks open public spaces and grounds.

“The programme is expected to promote urban greenery which is lacking in the metropolis,” Tamang said, outlining the plan to build gardens in public land in all the wards. All of the gardens have to be built from the scratch and will be completed in five year’s time, he added.

Although the KMC has not allocated a specific budget for the programme, the metropolis could use the budget from another “one ward-one infrastructure” programme. A total of Rs490 million has been allocated for the programme, with Rs10 million each for the 35 wards and a further Rs140 million in general.

Tamang has urged local residents to propose suitable land for establishing gardens.