Haridwar, Jan 15 (PTI): The BJP government in Haryana which has ambitious plans to promote yoga and ayurveda in a big way has appointed yoga guru Ramdev its brand ambassador.

Announcing this at a press conference at the Divya Yog Mandir here, Haryana's minister of sports and health Anil Vij said a herbal forest would be developed over thousands of acres of land in the state where plants of 25 thousand species of ayurvedic herbs would be grown under the supervision of the yoga guru and his close aide Balkrishna.

Expressing happiness at being appointed Haryana's brand ambassador, Ramdev said considering the state government's vision, the day was not far off when it would become India's first yogic state.

The emphasis on yoga and ayurveda would lead to an amalgamation of tradition and modernity and inclusion of yoga in the school syllabus would turn Haryana into a model state based on Indian values and traditions.

Disclosing the state government's grandiose plans to promote yoga and ayurveda, Vij said Krishna Ayurvedic college of Haryana would be developed into an Ayurvedic University whereas a yogic centre of international standards would be built in Panchkula.

Vij said he has been camping at Patanjali Yogpeeth for the last two days to discuss with the yoga guru the methods to implement the state government's plans to promote yoga and ayurveda.

Yoga would be made a compulsory subject in Haryana's schools for which yogshalas would be constructed in all the towns and about 6500 villages of the state under the guidance of Ramdev, he said.

Zero period in all schools of Haryana would be yoga period and the PT teachers would have to undergo a training in yoga under the guidance of the yoga guru, he said.

An ayush wing was being established in all the hospitals of Haryana for which 550 doctors would have to do a refresher course under the supervision of the yoga guru, Vij said, adding that Anaganvadi teachers would also be imparted training in yoga.