According to MCD officials, the plants and trees planted at the rotaries, central verges, roundabouts etc do not usually survive due to lack of proper irrigation facilities. To ensure that the city looks `green' during the Games, the civic agency has roped in a private company that will start work by February.

Said an official: "Drip irrigation is a water-saving technology which allows slow and regular release of water directly to the roots of the plant through pipes and low discharge emitters. In India, this technology is being used in Punjab by farmers and MCD will be one of the first civic agencies to use it on such a large scale. We will be paying the company Rs one lakh for each kilometer this technology is used for.''

The horticulture work along MCD roads will only be taken up after the streetscaping projects are completed. The civic agency is supposed to plant 10 lakh trees, shrubs etc on main roads, central verges, flyovers and roads leading to Games stadia and other venues. The total cost of carrying out this landscaping work will be 10 crore.

Said an MCD official: "Parks have already been developed under flyovers at Moti Nagar, Janakpuri, Zakhira and work is ongoing at Patel Nagar, Sewa Nagar, Defence Colony, Tilak Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Lothian Bridge, Calcutta Bridge and railway-under bridge at Patparganj, Badarpur etc.''

Meanwhile, traffic circles have also been developed at Pusa, Rani Jhansi Road, Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Tulsi Marg, Deshbandhu Gupta Road and Lodhi Road. Central verges where work will begin include the ones near Old Delhi Railway Station, Delhi Gate, GK-1, Lodhi Road, Bhishma Pithamaha Marg, East of Kailash, Pankha Road, Jail Road, Tamil Sangam Marg, Madhuban to Patparganj Dairy etc.