More animals to find home in Chattbir zoo

Sources said a detailed proposal had been made for upgrade of the zoo at the cost of Rs 38 crore.

The proposal will be discussed in a meeting of the Forest department on Monday.

According to the proposal,the department plans to buy these animals from African countries and ostrich and kangaroo from Australia. Around Rs 1 crore will be spent on purchasing these animals.

Also,the department plans to get four Asiatic lions from the Jaipur zoo.

“According to the rules,we cannot buy these animals in India. It is banned by the Union government. So,these animals will be bought from abroad,” a zoo official said. “We will get four Asiatic lions from the Jaipur zoo. The Union government has agreed to that and we have received a communication in this regard.”

“At present,there are only about ten lions in the Lion Safari in the zoo. These are old and cannot reproduce,as they were sterilised. The new ones will be able to reproduce,” the official added.

A senior official confirmed that there have been unofficial talks about upgradation of the zoo. For the purpose,the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) can be roped in so that the upgrade work can start on public-private-partnership (PPP) mode,the official said.

According to sources,the department has proposed to acquire the land behind the zoo,which touches the Ghaggar river. This land belongs to the zoo — its administrative control is with the District Forest Officer,Patiala.

It has been proposed to develop this land for eco-tourism with an expenditure of around Rs 6 crore. Among other works,a 3,000-metre fence has to be raised around the land.Further,it has been proposed that the biggest zoo in North India be made a ‘no-vehicle zone’ and that authorities should buy battery-operated vehicles to ferry visitors inside the zoo.

It has also been proposed that the eight kilometre road network inside the zoo be re-carpeted and strengthened,and footpaths be constructed along them — last time,these roads were upgraded in 1986.

Also,footpaths are needed along the cages of the animals.

Among other proposals include the plan to spend around Rs 95 lakh on renovation of the inspection hut,where VVIPs stay during their visit to the zoo.

Also,the staff quarters,which are thirty years old,need repairs.

There are also plans to create 248 posts to augment the strength of the staff.

Forest dept proposals on the table today
* Acquire the land behind the zoo and develop it for eco-tourism at a cost of Rs 6 crore
* Make zoo a ‘no vehicle zone’
* Buy battery-operated vehicles for visitors
* Re-carpet the 8 km road network inside the zoo
* Construct and strengthen footpaths along the roads and cages
* Construct an animal information centre at a cost of Rs 50 lakh
* Change the electricity supply system installed in 1977
* Dig three more tublewells and increase the capacity of the present three tube wells inside the zoo
* Construct more visitor sheds,toilets and better drinking water facilities
* Renovate the inspection hut,where VVIPs stay,and staff quarters at a cost of Rs 95 lakh

* Desilt the two lakes in the zoo at a cost of Rs 1.20 crore

* Create 248 more posts of zoo staff