The location, which the native villagers consider existed because the historic interval of the Mahabharata, has lengthy been the pure habitat of the Indian softshell turtle.
In July 2017, the Haryana authorities had declared a 100-acre pond website at village Thana in its Kurukshetra district because the state’s first neighborhood reserve website, to preserve its wealthy biodiversity. 4 years on, there’s a lot left to be finished on the ailing pond – although there’s hope because the authorities, too, are eager on defending the pond that the village reveres.
“Regardless of its wealthy biodiversity and the noble step by the Haryana authorities to declare it a neighborhood reserve 4 years in the past, the place has not been restored the best way it was deliberate initially,” Ved Parkash, an area villager and husband of Thana village’s outgoing sarpanch Sharda Devi, informed Mongabay-India. He mentioned all the village’s sewage water is drained into the pond. The wildlife division employed a contractor to arrange a five-pond system that may be a pure method to clear soiled sewage water contained in the pond. But it surely ceased to work quickly after, and the division didn’t take any cognisance of the matter.
The location, which the native villagers consider existed because the historic interval of the Mahabharata, has lengthy been the pure habitat of the Indian softshell turtle (Nilssonia gangetica), an endangered species on the Worldwide Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Purple Listing. The state wildlife division additionally discovered the Indian flapshell turtle (Lissemys punctata) contained in the pond, making the positioning much more outstanding for aquatic wildlife.
In line with Chetna Sharma, a chook watcher based mostly in Kurukshetra and a member of the neighborhood reserve undertaking’s administration committee, the positioning can also be a significant hub of migratory birds within the area who arrive primarily within the winter season. She has already recorded greater than 120 species of birds just like the widespread shelduck, pink creste, pochards, mallards, black throated thrushes and species like woolly necked storks, painted storks and many others. Within the summers it’s pleasant to look at stunning pheasant tailed jacanas in breeding plumage, larger painted snipes and lesser whistling teals, she tells Mongabay-India.
The wildlife division had additionally created mounds in addition to bunds for the resting and nesting of turtles and birds, however these too caved in.
“The pond website is a matter of giant religion for us. We consider that it’s the unique Brahma Sarovar (a holy water physique of Hindus), which didn’t get wider recognition. Gulzari Lal Nanda, our former Prime Minister, visited the positioning within the 60s and needed this website to emerge as a predominant spiritual and vacationer vacation spot. However one way or the other it couldn’t occur and we villagers nonetheless remorse it,” mentioned Ved Parkash.
“Now that the state authorities has adopted the positioning and envisioned it to be developed as an eco-tourism hub, the restoration work isn’t correct. There is no such thing as a correct street. The clear water line to the pond is mendacity fractured,” he mentioned.
In line with him, his spouse was a part of the administration committee – by advantage of being a sarpanch – whose function was to oversee the restoration work. However the committee was by no means saved within the loop by the division so far as restoration work is worried.
Plantation, fencing work pending
Fencing the neighborhood reserve website was additionally a part of the unique restoration plan. The aim was to stop the entry of cattle and different stray animals like canines into it. However the price range for the work is but not made out there, mentioned division officers. Aside from fencing, desilting and removing of weeds from the water physique are additionally required.
The location additionally has outdated, conventional bushes of Jaal species across the pond. Nonetheless their roots are broken because the villagers used to tie their cattle with the stems. Sharma informed Mongabay-India that the authorities ought to maintain a gathering with the villagers to cease them from tying their cattle to those bushes.
These bushes additionally have to be revived by strengthening their roots other than the plantation of different bushes in and across the website. She mentioned the thick tree cowl is of significant significance to guard the biodiversity, in addition to ensuring that the avian inhabitants will get an acceptable atmosphere to put their eggs and breed. “The birds breed solely on the website the place they really feel protected sufficient to put their eggs. So this website must be correct atmosphere,” she added.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 , I suppose, delayed a lot of the restoration work. However the good factor is that the division is severe about restoration work. Just lately, chief wildlife warden Jagdish Chander known as a gathering and sought suggestions to spruce up the place. I consider the division will pace up the restoration actions within the close to future,” she mentioned.
She mentioned village ponds in most components of Haryana have been transformed into business fishing. However right here is the place that is still untouched and developed into a significant hub for migratory and home birds other than giving shelters to uncommon turtle species. Subsequently it have to be protected and common supervision is required, she added.
All works are being taken on precedence: division
Whereas Jagdish Chander couldn’t be reached for feedback, district wildlife officer Shyam Sundar informed Mongabay-India that every one essential restoration work is being taken on precedence.
The price range has already been sanctioned on this yr’s annual plan for the strengthening of mounds in addition to the revival of Jaal bushes on the website. The issue is that villagers tie their cattle to the roots of those bushes that have to be stopped, he added.
“Aside from this, we’re additionally finishing up plantations in and across the space. We not too long ago planted Panchavati bushes on the website and extra bushes can be planted in days to return,” he knowledgeable.
So far as fencing work of the positioning is worried, he mentioned the proposal was stopped because of some objections on the larger degree. “However we’ll once more push for it and revive the undertaking, mentioned Shyam Sunder.
On the failure of the five-pond system to scrub the pond water, he mentioned the concept of the system is to scrub the soiled sewerage water earlier than its drainage into the pond.
“It was broken because of rains and different points after which correct upkeep couldn’t be finished. We are going to make a provision for its upkeep and revive it, he mentioned.