Eco-park proposed near Panchet Dam in Dhanbad

P Mishra

Giridih: Wild animals, apart from migratory birds, virtually considered as live examples of the ‘living beauties’ in and around Panchet Dam in Dhanbad district, are likely to get a safe passage including conducive feeding and breeding ground shortly. The site is located along the bank of river Damodar, about 20 – 25 km from the district headquarters Dhanbad.

The Forest department, as a part of the Union Government’s ‘Namami Gange Programme’, a promising project meant to clean the sacred Ganga water, has proposed for a multipurpose eco – park near Panchet Dam in  Dhanbad. Eco – park along with the proposed wildlife management activities will ensure the development of entire areas as a hub of eco – tourism as well as  protection of migratory birds and wild animals in the lap of nature. It  will also generate employment opportunities to the local youths.

Soon after the information regarding inclusion of ‘River Damodar’ into the Namami Gange programme came into light, a team of Dhanbad forest officials, swung into action and visited river banks and nearby locations to find possibilities for creation of an eco – park near Panchet Dam.

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Dhanbad, Saurav Chandra, confirmed the forests department’s proposal for eco – park near Panchet Dam and added that the proposals also include habitat development programme to promote tourism across the region and generate employment opportunities to local youths.

“Although, creations of eco–park and wildlife management are two different components, but since entire area comes along river Damodar  and the Panchet lake is adjacent to the forest areas, where continuous flows of wild animals and migratory birds are noticed during their peak periods, we have sent a joint proposal to create multipurpose park near Panchet Dam. As per the plan, there would different segments for each animals and birds in the park,” Chandra told the TOI adding that if the forests department’s proposal is passed, entire areas would be developed as a hot tourist spo.