Bhondsi farm of former PM Chander Shekhar to be developed as tourist spot

By Satinder Bains
CHANDIGARH: In view of Commonwealth Games, the Bharat Yatra Kendra developed by former Prime Minister Chander Shekhar at village Bhondsi in district Gurgaon would be developed as an attractive tourist spot.



The task will be performed by the Haryana panchayat and development department, forest and environment department in collaboration with Haryana Tourism. In first phase, the repair of existing buildings and structures at the Kendra will be taken up.

This decision was taken in high level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Parliamentary Secretary Dharambir Singh. The meeting was attended by Financial Commissioner of Panchayat Department P. Raghvendra Rao, Director Panchayats Lajvir Singh, Deputy Commissioner Rajender Kataria, office bearers of Bhondsi Gram Panchayat and officers from forest and environment department.

Since the ownership of the land measuring 588 acres under Bharat Yatra Kendra now vests with the Bhondsi Gram Panchayat, Dharamvir Singh asked the officers to involve the panchayat in the works to be taken up on this land. Initially, the panchayat would provide funds for the development of the area and when the project gets approved, those funds would be returned back to the panchayat by the forest and environment department. Dharamvir Singh, who is also MLA from Sohna in which this Kendra lies, said that funds allocated under the project would be operated through a joint account of the Gram Panchayat and forest and environment department so that transparency remains in the expenditure.

He said that the village forest committee would monitor the development works at the Bharat Yatra Kendra. The Committee would have Sarpanch and Panch of Bhondsi Gram Panchayat, officers from District Administration, Forest and Environment, Haryana Tourism, Block Development and Panchayat officer Sohna and Tehsildar Sohna as its members. Chief Parliamentary Secretary asked the committee members to develop the land into a attractive tourists spot so that the players and tourists coming from abroad during Commonwealth Games could have their leisure time here. They should get a glimpse of Haryanvi culture at this Kendra. He also directed the officers concerned to connect the Bharat Yatra Kendra with Dumduma lake and improve its connectivity to the millennium city. For this a survey may be conducted, he said and added that initially the Bharat Yatra Kendra would be opened for tourists after taking up repairs. The ponds and lakes in the Kendra would be desilted and filled with water to cater to the needs of animals and birds there besides recharging the water table. Afterwards a detailed project would be prepared keeping the requirements of tourists in focus. The forest and environment department was asked to take up Eco-tourism at this Kendra.

As per the plan, the existing main building at the Kendra would be developed as a guest house which can be used for the stay of tourists. The redundant tubewells would also be made functional. The Bhondsi Gram Panchayat members told in the meeting that presently the maintenance and lookafter of the Bharat Yatra Kendra was with the forest and environment department since 2004. The entire 588 acres of land was handed over to the forest department for a period of 15 years, that is, upto 2019. Through a gazette notification, this land was declared forest reserve by the Government in which it was clearly stated that the ownership of the land would remain with the Bhondsi Gram Panchayat. Any income generated from here would also go to the panchayat and only projects of Eco-tourism could be taken up.