Calls to save pasture land echo at 4-day Oran festival

Jaisalmer: The four-day Oran Festival, a gathering of common people and environment experts, concluded in Jaisalmer on Tuesday with the submission of a memorandum to district collector Tina Dabi, seeking registration of all the pastureland in the district in the revenue records and their protection. The festival that started at Shri Degrai pastureland showcased the rich culture and biodiversity of the region while stressing the need for natural resource management.
Experts discussed how pasture lands in Jaisalmer district are getting extinct due to industrial development. Solar and windmill units being set up are also causing damage to the environment, they said.
Many programmes organised in this festival, led by environmentalists Sumer Singh Bhati Sanwata and Bhopal Singh Bhati Jhaloda, aimed at creating extensive awareness about the need for environment protection. Tourists with interest in pasture lands and wildlife came from different parts of the country and visited Degrai, Bhopa, Temderai, Pithla, Damodara, Kolria Rai, Dungarpeer, Jagtai and Vikamsi Ki Oran.
During the festival, night jagrans, seminars, bhajans and Kabir Vani gatherings were organised in various villages. The tourists met environmental enthusiasts, cattle raisers and farmers, and tried to know the problems caused by the extinction of pasture lands. Chatar Singh, an expert on water bodies and ancient agriculture systems, showed to the tourists various water bodies and the pasture lands dependent on them.