Nature lovers of Malwa region are in for a visual treat

Varinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 4

Nature lovers of Malwa region are in for a visual treat as the 121-acre nature park at Rampura Phul will be ready to receive visitors within the next two months.

The nature park, carved out of the old ‘Bir’ (small forest) on the outskirts of Rampura Phul will be a boon for nature and wildlife lovers particularly, for it will create the much-needed awareness among the people of the Malwa belt about the importance of conservation of wildlife and forests.

The most exhilarating part of the nature park will be a zigzag nature trail for visitors.

While passing through it, visitors will get a chance to know about the rich biodiversity of the forest life of the region.

Though old species of trees for which the region is known for are facing extinction, the Punjab Forest Department has made an effort to revive the old charm by planting hundreds of Malwa specific trees such as van, kareer, desi ber, reru, desi kikar, rahura and suhanjana.

“The plantation of saplings of these trees is in its final phase. In fact, we feel that people of the area not much aware of the importance of biodiversity of the region. The younger generation hardly knows about the joy of being in a forest for their obsession with modern communication gadgets. The shrinking of forests has almost touched the brink of disaster in the region. Bathinda has the lowest forest cover in the state. Our effort is to make a start so that people get inspired and be aware of trees, and plant them in their homes and farms. It will also reduce pollution in the long run,” said Sanjiv Tiwari, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Bathinda.

Workers of the department are busy planting nearly 5,000 saplings of old and almost forgotten trees such as jand, desi babool, desi ber, suhanjana and kareer among others.

In fact, the Bir at Rampura Phul was known for its biodiversity till about two years ago.

The biggest blow to the forest came when the authorities were made to hand over a chunk of 62-acre to the Punjab Animal Husbandry Department for setting up a veterinary college in 2014.

The upcoming nature park boasts of facilities such as a two km long walking track, rain shelter, toilets, a small water reservoir for animals and a lawn for children to play.

“We are in the process of installing a tubewell to meet the water shortage. In the next phase, sprinkler system will also be put in place for irrigation of plants of the nature park. The boundary wall and the main gate are near completion,” said Sanjiv Tiwari while talking to Bathinda Tribune.