Fatehabad villages to have community reserves

Haryana Geography and Environment

Fatehabad district will soon have three community reserves — protected areas for wildlife — as panchayats of Dhangar, Dhani Majra and Kahalheri villages have offered land to the state government for the purpose.
All three villages are inhabited by members of Bishnoi community, which is known to protest wildlife. The three villages have a fairly good population of blackbucks, black partridges, rabbits, Neelgai and peacocks.
Under Sections 36 (C) and (D) of the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act 2002, panchayat land can be declared a community reserve by the state government. Once declared as such, the land ownership remains with the panchayat, but the Wildlife Department provides grants for plantation and other development activities.
The maintenance of the community reserve is done by a committee nominated by the panchayat.
At present, blackbucks in the three villages have been facing danger from stray dogs and poachers.