PM Narendra Modi’s love and passion for lion conservation has ensured that the lion population in Gujarat has increased from 674 to 891. Also, a new sanctuary will be coming up at Barda at the cost of Rs 75 crores. This announcement has been made by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel. The Chief Minister emphasised that it was after a gap of 143 years that lions have naturally started re-inhabiting the Barda hills in Saurashtra. Gujarat is the only home for Asiatic lions in India.
“PM has always considered the conservation of nature, the environment, and animals as our responsibility”. Stating this, the Chief Minister added that an emotional and economic bond has developed between the local people and the Gir lions. Over the past two and a half decades, the lion’s range has expanded from 3 to 11 districts, nurturing the sentiment among locals: ‘If the lion exists, we exist; if we exist, the lion exists.'”
He further said that a Project Lion document titled ‘Lion @2047: Vision for Amrit Kaal’ has been released. This Project Lion @2047 will play a significant role in effectively managing the growing lion population, securing and restoring lion habitats, generating employment, and increasing community participation. The government is working for the holistic development of the area alongside the development of wildlife tourism.
Inaugurating development works worth Rs 180 crore for the conservation of forests and wildlife and the development of the tourism sector, the Chief Minister added that in the Barda sanctuary area, a new safari park and tourist facilities will soon be undertaken at a cost of Rs 75 crore.
He said an online portal now enables booking of the state’s 24 ecotourism sites, which will boost local industries and handicrafts.
He further added that under the leadership of the PM, the state government has successfully fulfilled its strong commitment to the conservation and protection of wildlife. It is a matter of pride that Asiatic lions are found only in the Gir region of Gujarat.
CM Patel added that with the re-habitation of lions in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary after many decades, new energy is flowing into Barda’s biodiversity, which will boost ecotourism. Prime Minister has initiated ‘Mission LiFE’ and the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Abhiyan’ to combat climate change. ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam Abhiyan’ is the biggest pledge for our lifestyle, our connection with nature, and its protection. He urged everyone to support Viksit Bharat by planting more trees for a prosperous India.
The Prime Minister’s vision and conservation efforts have boosted the state’s lion population, with advanced technology used for the first time to count them. After 143 years, lions are reinhabiting Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, located near Timbdi in Bhanvad taluka of Devbhumi Dwarka district. Barda is home to more than 400 medicinal plants, the 6th-century Navlakha Temple, various religious places, and natural waterfalls. As a result, lions have accepted Barda Sanctuary as their second home.
The Chief Minister announced the inauguration and foundation-laying of works and schemes worth Rs 180.12 crore. At Barda Sanctuary, the Chief Minister announced a new safari park, an interpretation center, and tourist facilities over an area of 248 hectares, to be developed at a cost of Rs 75 crore. In addition, breeding centres for herbivore conservation programmes will be built at a cost of Rs 10.96 crore, 137 eco-development works will be carried out in forest settlement villages and eco-sensitive zones at a cost of Rs 7.57 crore, and community development works in 720 villages under the JICA project will be undertaken at a cost of Rs 3562 crore.
Also Read: Gir’s Iconic Asiatic Lion Duo Jay, Veeru Dead https://www.vibesofindia.com/girs-iconic-asiatic-lion-duo-jay-veeru-dead/
