Chinji National Park ready to open this year

Mini dams, ponds to be built in forests across Punjab

RAWALPINDI:

The sustainable division of the Punjab Forest Department has received an extension of a year to increase the number of national parks in the province after completion of the development of Chinji National Park, a spokesperson shared on Sunday.

The division has been given an extension until December 1, 2021, he added, while the sustainable division also announced building of new mini dams and ponds in forests across Punjab.

He also said that the department has finished the conversion of Chinji National Park spread over 1,503 acres. Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar will inaugurate the new national park in the last 10 days of January, the official mentioned.

The five century-old forest now has a 100-feet long tower from where the visitors could view the entire area, he said, adding that a huge parking space, guest house, and tuck shops can also be found at the national park.

Meanwhile, the construction of a mini dam and two ponds for wild animals is also underway where rainwater would be stored, the official stated. Fish will be kept there for breeding while the dam is expected to attract different species of birds too, he added.

The official further mentioned that viewing points dating back to the British rule have also been taken under protection while planks inscribed with the history of Sangam Forest have been erected as well.

Sustainable Division Administration Officer Muhammad Nauman told The Express Tribune that they have completed construction of the national park in good time while the renovation at certain points will be completed in the ongoing week.

He added that the deployment of forest guards for security of the visitors will also be taken into account along with the installation of closed-circuit television cameras.

Chinji National Park, established in 1987, is a protected area of IUCN category II located on Sargodha road in Talagang Tehsil, Chakwal District, Punjab. It covers a total area of 15,061 acres. It is located close to Salt Range, about 130km from Islamabad in the south

Nauman said that the chosen area was once inhabited centuries ago. He added that the entire land was filled with ancient relics and there were many historical aspects related to the region’s Hindu-Buddhist history.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2021.