Haryana Government has constituted a five member committee for the management of the state’s first community reserve project, Golden Jubilee Brahma Sarovar Community Reserve at village Thana in district Kurukshetra.

The project envisages the conservation of biodiversity of this area, said a spokesman of Forest and Wildlife Department.

The Chief Minister Manohar Lal has approved a proposal for constitution of this committee which will work under the expert supervision of the Wildlife Department. The members of the management committee included Sarpanch Gram Panchayat, Thana, Harjeet Singh of village Jhurasi Kalan; Ramdhari Sharma, Municipal Councilor, Pehowa; Rinku, Member, Zila Parishad and Dr Chetna Sharma of Modern Diagnostic Laboratory, Kaithal.

 He said that the Chief Minister had laid the foundation stone of Swarna Jayanti Brahma Sarovar Community Reserve.

The ancient Brahma Sarovar at Thana village is a rare natural habitat for the endangered species of turtles. The water body spread over 100 acres is also a home to several species of migratory and resident birds, the spokesman said.

Under the project, various ghats would be restored and fruit trees would be planted all around the pond. The Wildlife Department would prepare safe nesting sites for turtles for laying eggs and water management at the pond, he added.

 He further said that with a view to protect and conserve the ecological biodiversity of the area surrounding Brahma Sarovar in village Thana and to further develop the area as a tourist destination, the Haryana Government has implemented project for Eco-restoration of Brahma Sarovar Sacred Pond at village Thana in the district.

Under this project, which is the first of its kind, restoration activities would be carried out in about 100 acres comprising Brahma Sarovar and its surroundings.

The spokesman said that three turtles of different species   have been released into Brahma Sarovar. The restoration of the Reserve would be carried out at a cost of about Rs 7.5 crore. Besides, a skill development centre would be established on the Reserve where youth and self help groups from nearby villages would be imparted skill development training to make them employable and self-sustaining.

They would also be imparted training so that they may act as guides for visitors to the area and inform them about the local flora and fauna. It is a unique project where the community will be directly involved in the protection of the wildlife, he added.