Walk-in aviary at Pinjore planned
By Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service

PINJORE ( Panchkula), July 31 — To place this historical town on the national eco-tourism map and to attract bird watchers, the Haryana Wildlife Department has planned a walk-in aviary on international standards at the Yadavindra Gardens here.

The proposed aviary, to be modelled on the pattern of an aviary existing at Gandhinagar in Gujarat, will initially come up on about one acre of land to be provided by the Haryana Tourism Department adjacent to the Yadavindra Gardens. The aviary, which will house at least 50 different species of common Indian birds, will provide an opportunity to the visitors to study the birds in their natural environment, say Wildlife Department officials.

Sources say that the plan to set up the aviary at the gardens had been necessitated due to poor condition of the animal and bird enclosures at the mini zoo, located within the garden complex. The visitors to the garden have been, in fact, expressing their displeasure at the empty bird enclosures ever since a number of birds were stolen a few months back.

The officials say that the small enclosures at the mini zoo had become useless after the Central Zoo Authority issued guidelines to provide bigger cages and better and natural living conditions to the zoo creatures. Moreover, resource crunch came in the way of the Wildlife Department to renovating the enclosures.

Shortage of space within the garden complex has also made the Wildlife Department to plan the walk-in aviary. Coming to the help of the Wildlife Department, the Tourism Department has offered to provide over three acres of land adjacent to the Yadavindra Garden for the ambitious project.

To be designed on the pattern of an aviary at Switzerland, shrubs, large trees, water body and natural landscape will be included within the proposed 40 feet high enclosure. The aviary will be covered with wire mesh and a part of the roof would have transparent synthetic sheets to allow light into the enclosure.

The officials say that there were plans to put at least 500 birds, including some exotic ones, in the aviary. To enable the visitors to study the birds, a camouflaged tree-top trail will be provided in the enclosure. The entire project is expected to cost over Rs 50 lakh.

The Wildlife Department officials say that around six lakh tourists, who annually visit the Yadavindra Gardens, would also visit the aviary, thereby enabling them to generate revenue. Additional staff — three wildlife keepers, a wildlife guard and other subordinate staff — would also be required to look after the aviary.

Besides, the Tourism Department has undertaken a massive development plan of the Yadavindra Gardens at a cost over Rs 1.50 crore to maintain the glory of the historic place, which was built by Fidai Khan in the 17th century. The front face of the garden is being given a facelift at a cost of over Rs 77.74 lakh while the water channel were being repaired at a cost of over Rs 29 lakh. A nullah passing in front of the garden would also be beautified.

A new tubewell to provide constant supply of water to fountains and repair of the non-functional fountains was also being undertaken at a cost of Rs 16.53 lakh. Provision of a new 12-room motel, illumination of heritage properties and modernisation of old rooms was also on the anvil. The Tourism Department plans to hold sound and light shows to attract more tourists.

Maan loves Punjab his motherland
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, July 31 — "Even as there is cut throat competition and the market is flooded with a large number of Punjabi singers, I would prefer my motherland Punjab and would try my luck here," says Harbhajan Maan, an upcoming Punjabi singer of "Oye Oye" fame.

Maan, whose latest Punjabi pop album, "Oye Oye" has recently been released by the T-Series and is said to be popular among youth, was addressing a press conference in a Panchkula hotel today.

He said that though he had earned fame and had established himself in the national pop scene, yet he would not part with his motherland Punjab, where he was brought up and learnt his first lesson in music. "Because I love my people and land, I have come back from abroad," said Maan, who made his debut in 1992 with his first album "Chitthiye Ne Chitthiye". "I don't hate commercialism but I feel that one should not become so commercialised that he may forget his roots," he added.

While refusing to comment on the rumours that he was going to jump into the political arena, Maan claimed that he had got offers to sing in two Hindi films.

Sinha’s statement criticised
Tribune News Service

SAS NAGAR, July 31 — The local Trade Union Council has criticised the Union Finance Minister, Mr Yashwant Sinha, for his statement that the country would go bankrupt if wages of the working class were increased.

At a meeting here yesterday, the council alleged that the statement was an indication that the government was bending before the multinational corporations and capitalists.

The union further held the Vajpayee Government responsible for the Kargil problem and alleged that it was concealing facts from people, particularly as to how the intruders made their entry into Indian territory. The government must summon the Rajya Sabha session on the issue as the Vajpayee Government was not a popular government as the Lok Sabha had already been dismissed for its failure on different issues.

Mr Ramji Dass, General Secretary of the council, said the losses incurred by the public sector establishments, ESPL, Punjab Recorder, Punwac, Punjab Power Pack and Punwire should be inquired into by a sitting High Court Judge as the workers of these concerns were being denied wages.