Tal Chhapar Sanctuary

Geography and geologyEdit

The sanctuary is named after Chhapar village which is located at 27°-50' North and 74°-25' East. It is a flat saline depression locally known as a "tal" that has a unique ecosystem in the heart of the Thar Desert. Perched at a height of 302 meters (990 feet) above sea level. Tal Chhaper Sanctuary, with almost flat tract and interspersed shallow low-lying areas, has open grassland with scattered Acacia and Prosopis trees which give it an appearance of a typical savanna. The word "tal" means plane land. The rain water flows through shallow low-lying areas and collect in the small seasonal water ponds.

The geology of the zone is obscured by the wind blown over-burden. Some small hillocks and exposed rocks of slate and quartzite are found in the western side of the sanctuary. The area between hillocks and the sanctuary constitutes the watershed area of the sanctuary. The whole sanctuary used to be flooded by water during the heavy rains but with salt mining going on in the watershed, hardly any rain falling on the hillocks reaches the sanctuary.Near by villages are Jogalia, Jaitasar, Bidasar.

Flora and faunaEdit

The forest of this region falls under major group “Tropical Forest” as per classifications of Indian forests by Champion & Seth. The forest of sanctuary area again falls under the group “Topical Thorn Forest” and sub group 6B/C “Desert Thorn Forests”.

The sanctuary area is mostly covered by grasses with a very few trees. It lies on the passageway of many migratory birds such as harriers. These birds pass through this area during September. Birds commonly seen in the sanctuary are harriers, eastern imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short-toed eagle, sparrow, and little green bee-eaters, black ibis and demoiselle cranes, which stay till March. Skylarks, crested larks, ring doves, and brown doves are seen throughout the year. Desert fox and desert cat can also be spotted along with typical avifauna such as partridge and sand grouse.

Tal Chappar Sanctuary comes alive with the chirping of various migratory birds including Montagur's, marsh harrier, pale harrier, imperial eagle, tawny eagle, short toed eagle, sparrow hawk, skylark, crested lark, ring drove, brown dove, blue jay, green bee eaters, black ibis and demoiselle cranes.

In the Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, a special type of grass is found. This grass is called Mothiya locally. The word "Mothiya" comes come from the word "Moti" or from the English word for pearl. The shape of the seed of this grass is like very fine round shaped pearls. Mothiya has a very sweet taste. People enjoy eating it, but it is found in very small quantities. Production is only a few kilograms every season. Mothiya is also food for blackbucks and birds which dig it from earth with their starks.

ClimateEdit

This region is characterized by a distinct winter (from October to February), summer (March to June)

and monsoon (July to September). The zone has a dry climate with large variation in temperature wind blows south – west during summer. In May and June winds become very hot and that is called "loo" The maximum temperature reaches up to 48 °C (118 °F) in June and the minimum temperature falls to 10 °C (50 °F) in December – January. The Tal Chhapar Zone comes under the principal arid zone of the country. Rainfall in this region is highly erratic. There is large variation in mean annual rainfall in this region. Average rainfall in this region is about 300 mm.

FacilitiesEdit

There are two rest houses situated in sanctuary area and being maintained by forest department having four suites accommodation. These rest houses come under the control of Deputy conservator of forest, Churu. Any one can contact for accommodation to DCF, Churu. Chhapar – Sujangarh state highway divides the sanctuary area in two parts. In the sanctuary there are Kacha tracks which are used for inspection, patrolling & viewing the fauna of the sanctuary.

NewsEdit

In February 2006, Tal Chhaper was included in the itinerary of "Heritage on Wheel" train. Now tourists have opportunity to visit the sanctuary twice in a week by train.

In March 2006, Rs. 2 crore and 82 lacs budget announced by Hon'ble C.M. in her budget speech 2006-07 for the development of Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, for 2006-07 to 2010-11 (a five-year plan), under which 1 crore and 10 lacs will be spent next year. The Diwali saneh samelan held in Mumbai at Gazebo Bunglow, Marve Road, Malad (W) Mumbai on 13 November 2011.

Tal Chhaper Sanctuary was included in the tourism map of Rajasthan tourism. Hon’ble CM has announced a project in the budget speech 2006-07 for development of the sanctuary as Eco-Tourism and ‘Wild Life’ Tourism spot. The project includes five year action plan amounting Rs.2.82 crores for integrated development of the sanctuary. Budget provision for Rs.1.10 crores in the current financial year has been sanctioned. A high level committee headed by Principal Secretary, Forest Mrs. Rukmani Haldia and comprising the famous architect Ms. Revathi Kamath, fashion designer international fame Ms. Bibi Russel, commissioner Tourism and Chief wild life warden has already visited the sanctuary to make a comprehensive and integrated development action plan. Rajendra Dadhich president Rajasthan Vikas parisad, Mumbai also visited.