Deer safari open, tiger safari in the line to put Bathinda on tourist map of India

BATHINDA: From Shikaras to deer safari, Bathinda, the political capital of Punjab is on the way to turn out as the new hub for nature and adventure sport lovers. More known for its tibbas(sandy dunes) till not long ago, it has become the only town of Punjab having deer safari. The deer safari spread over 115 acres came up earlier this week in its latest avtar making this Southern Punjab town on the way to come up on the tourist map. 75 hog deer, black buck have made the deer safari as their new address, which has been remodelled with Rs. 10 crore. Though the mini zoo had come up in 1982 and the deer were caged in different enclosures but only now the open safari facility has been started much to the delight of nature lovers, said Bathinda resident Mukesh Kumar. Soon the battery operated vehicles will be put in motion for the tourists to enjoy the safari in style and the process for the tiger safari has also been put in motion and if all goes as per plans, the tiger safari too will be added as a star attraction, said forest officials.

Earlier in October, 2011, Bathinda had become the first town having shikara boating facility in the state.

Punjab principal chief conservator of forests(PCCF) HS Gujral said “the deer safari here is the first in the state and efforts are being made in consultation with the central zoo authority(CZA) to put in more varieties of deer, birds”. He said the master plan for the tiger safari soon will be taken up with CZA upon state government approves it.

Though the zoo spread over 145 acres situated just outside the town had deer since long but in the absence of proper safety measures 22 deer had died two years ago under mysterious circumstances and it was said that the stray dogs had devoured the deer now all care has been taken to stop this to happen again, said divisional forest official Sanjay Tiwari.

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal used to frequent the place very often and used to get annoyed over its pathetic condition and on his persuasion the forest authorities had chalked out the revival plans in 2010, said a source adding deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal took up keen interest in turning the place into a major tourist attraction.

Sukhbir Badal said soon tiger safari will be started here and leopard, hippopotamus will be added. This safari soon will be prepared at par with the finest safaries in India with rare species of deer and birds so that it could be projected as a major tourist spot in the area”.