Govt to rope in Ramdev to develop herbal forest

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 27

The Khattar government has decided to involve Ramdev in the development of the state’s first herbal forest to promote yoga and ayurveda in a big way.

Under the ambitious plan, over 25,000 species of ayurvedic herbs are to be grown in the herbal forest to be developed over thousands of acres. “The expertise of Ramdev and his confidant Balkrishna would be utilised in developing the herbal forest ,” official sources said.

Though the site for the proposed herbal forest is yet to be finalised, sources said Morni in Panchkula district fulfilled all parameters for a herbal forest. “Since Morni had sub-mountainous climate, all kinds of herbal plants could be grown in the area. Besides, the development of a herbal forest in the backdward Morni area would go a long way in developing this region,” the sources said.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Anil Vij, Health and Sports Minister, had written to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to call a meeting of the departments concerned so that the issues discussed with Ramdev could be taken to their logical conclusion. “Since various departments, including Education, Health, Forest, Sports and Finance would be involved in the execution of the herbal forest project, a decision would have to be taken at the Chief Minister’s level in this regard,” the sources asserted.

Recently, Vij met Ramdev at Haridwar and announced his name as the state’s Brand Ambassador to promote yoga and ayurveda. It was during Vij’s meeting with Ramdev that modalities to develop the herbal forest were discussed.