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Last Updated:: 09/09/2014
Govt asked to take step for including 7 pasture lands in heritage category
JAISALMER: Efforts are on to give seven pasture lands in Jodhpur division heritage status under Rajasthan Biological Diversity Rules 2010.
If the initiative becomes successful at the government level, then these pasture lands including Dhok in desert areas can find place in the list of UNESCO world heritages.
Recently, the state government implemented biological diversity rules 2010 to conserve biodiversity. Bhuvnesh Jain, a social worker from Barmer, has sent a memorandum to the chief minister of Rajasthanasking him to announce seven Orans (pasturelands) in Jodhpur division as heritage sites.
The focus of the initiative is to conserve the pasturelands in the desert on which Thar's cattle, insets and humans depend.
According to Jain, deserts spread for miles. In the event of sand storms and drought like situations, these Orans have been providing relief to humans, birds and cattle. "There is need for conserving them and the new Rajasthan Biological Diversity Rules 2010 will be a big help in this direction," said Jain
Jain, in the memorandum sent to the chief minister, mentioned that pasturelands have been at the centre of villagers' self-dependency in adverse situations. In old times, people used to get land in the name of Bevad, Kundal, Gala and Talar. They gave away such lands in the name of god and goddess. On this land, natural or man-made jungles are created, which are called Orans. It was a tradition that people never felled trees or plants in these Orans.
The memorandum mentions that in Jodhpur division, 1,759 villages have pasturelands and the total area is 1,34,749.97 hectares. These pasturelands have been full of biodiversity on which human and cattle, birds are dependent. These Orans are home to many types of grasses, herbs, medicinal plants, shrubs and trees, which are on the verge of extinction. With the passing time, the water sources in these pasturelands are being neglected. Jain said that whether it is Sariska or Rajasthan Desert National Park, all these are pasture lands.
Conserving these pasturelands will help people and cattle, while keeping alive the natural heritage of the desert. Foreign tourists and research students will be excited to visit these Orans. He said with the initiative of the government, Dhok like Oran in Chauhatan of border Barmer district and other pasturelands could be included in the list of Unesco world heritage sites.
According to Jain, Nagnechia of Eta villages in Pokrana area, Baba Ramdev in Ramdeora, Degrai in Sanvta village in Fatehgarh in Jaisalmer district, Dhok ki Viratra Mata in Chauhatan area, Jhankali in Shiv area and Nagnechi of Mungeria village in Barmer district and Orane in Jakhan village of Osia area in Jodhpur district are seven big and leading pasturelands in Jodhpur division. According to Jain, Dhok Viratra Mata Oran in Chauhatan area in Barmer district is the biggest pasture land spread on 17,947 hectares.
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