Innovative Forest landscape Governance- Bihar shows the way
Dr VK Bahuguna
September 22, 2024, 04:52:11
Bihar a picturesque state of Bharat, have historically a vibrant culture and is more often in news in national media for its colourful politicians, incessant rains and floods, Bodh Gaya & adjoining RajgirBuddhist circuit and archeologically famous ruins of 314 AD University at Nalanda. It was few decades ago Bihar was in the limelight in national media for wrong reasons like intense caste conflicts and administrative chaos. However, now the things are changing silently in Bihar under the capable leadership of Chief Minister Sri Nitish Kumar, who is ruling the state for last more than 25 years and known among the locals by the sobriquet “Sushasana Babu”. The state forest department is one such department which is working very efficiently thanks to the good old professional traditions set by the old foresters and getting support from the good political leadership in Sri Nitish Kumar the department is setting new paradigm of efficient innovative governance with professional competence.
I have noticed the great innovative forest management practices in Bihar during my recent visit to Gaya in the second week of September 2024 and was happy to note that for these types of diversified people centric worksare being undertaken by the department; which I have been strongly advocating in my articles for last few years so that the forest department can fulfill the changing aspiration of our people and remain relevant in their eyes. Gone are the days when the foresters were timber centric andnow people will rate the department what it offers to people to make them happy. This is truer for those states who have very less forest and tree cover in the country. The forest cover in Bihar after creation of Jharkhand based on the Forest Survey of India’s State of Forest report is only 7305.99 sq. km which constitute to 7.76% of the state’s geographic area.So, in such a scenario the department had focused on marketing its landscape in South Bihar’s Nalanda and Rajgir the ancient city areas. Rajgir, a historically rich region in Bihar’s Nalanda District, is renowned not only for its cultural heritage but also for its newly emerging attractions that blend forest’s pristine natural beauty with modern amenities. Among these, the Safari Zoo and Sky Walk stand out as notable additions that enhance the area’s appeal to both tourists and locals.The forest department had established a safari zoo that offers animals a pure natural surrounding and fully entertain the visiting public in five enclosures of Lion, Tiger, Leopard, Bear and Deer family. The Safari Zoo offers aunique wildlife experience set against the backdrop of Rajgir’s lush greenery and rolling hills. The zoo features large, open enclosures that replicate the animals’ natural habitats. This ambience not only benefits the animals by reducing stress but also provides visitors with a more engaging viewing experience and thus aligned with eco-friendly environmental goals and education. It has a great foot fall and the manner it is being run provides international standard infrastructure and orientation educative videos apart from providing livelihoods for large number of locals.
One innovation which need to be replicated in other states is marketing the landscape beauty in the midst of verdant forests of the Complementing the Safari Zoo, the Rajgir ‘Sky Walk’ is a cantilever bridge that provides a breathtaking vantage point to view the surrounding landscape. This attraction allows visitors to experience the natural beauty of Rajgir forests from an elevated perspective, enhancing their appreciation of the area’s topography and panoramic natural features with thrilling experience of walking on glass panels. It is one of its kind in India and compares very well with the Grand Canyon Sky Walk of Arizona state in United States in style and beauty. Indian forests have large number of such beautiful spots which can be marketed under eco-tourism concept. The footfall in Sky walk is more than one thousand people daily and is increasing and thus is providing good revenue to forest department as well as had created lot of jobs for the locals directly and helping the local economy prosper tremendously.
The other innovative steps forest department had taken is in Bodh Gaya the site of Buddhist pilgrimage. A Butter fly park has been created where the butter flies are breed in a scientifically managed laboratory and then visitors are allowed to release these on payment of a fee. It is done in consultation with Bodh Gaya Buddhist temple management in consonance with the Buddhist practice of release of birds and animals as a religious ritual. The Tree under which Gautam Buddha got enlightenment is also maintained in cooperation with Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. Along with Nalanda University ruins these additions of people centric nature entertainment infrastructure are adding a great value to Bihar’s Buddhist tourist circle as well as national eco-tourism infrastructure. Nalanda signifies the glory of Indian civilization and culture. When the western people were still living in Jungles in 600 BC the Indian had created Brick structures and monasteries where students and teachers were spreading knowledge. The culture of University education to humanity must have come from Nalanda. The Indian youth who are enamored by the western way of hair dressing and life style must visit Nalanda to have pride on Indian civilization and culture. For glob trotting Indian tourist the Rajgir Sky Walk, Safari Zoo, Butter Fly Park and Andman’s thrilling beauty of landscape provides better attraction not less than what people see in Interlaken in Switzerland. Bihar is beckoning Indians to come and be a ‘Bihari’ for a few days.
(The writer former Principal Secretary of Government of Tripura)
(Tripurainfo)