Known as "The City Beautiful," Chandigarh was planned with the environment in mind, integrating nature into its urban design.
* **Green Cover:** The city has an exceptional green cover, accounting for over 46% of its total geographical area. Almost every street is lined with specific species of flowering trees. * **Air Quality:** Generally moderate to satisfactory, though it experiences spikes in the Air Quality Index (AQI) during winter months due to regional crop residue burning (stubble burning) in neighboring states. * **Water Quality:** Tap water is treated and generally safe, though residents commonly use home water purifiers (RO systems) for drinking. * **Protected Areas:** Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, located near Sukhna Lake, is a protected forest area home to diverse flora and fauna, including sambar deer and migratory birds. * **Sustainability:** Chandigarh is pushing aggressive Electric Vehicle (EV) policies, restricting the registration of non-electric two-wheelers to promote zero-emission transit.