Wildlife Deptt groping in dark over source of funding for Jambu Zoo

*CZA approval to revised proposal too awaited
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 27: Notwithstanding much hype over start of work on Jambu Zoo in the outskirts of Jammu, the Wildlife Department is still groping in dark over committed source of funding for this Rs 120 crore worth project as Finance Department has yet not made any commitment for release of funds. Moreover, the approval of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) is also awaited till date.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that with a view to attract more tourists and pilgrims visiting the winter capital of the State and to help boost the economic activities, a proposal was mooted for construction of a zoo in Nagrota tehsil in the year 2014 and accordingly the necessary exercise including preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) was initiated.
Following completion of paper work and identification of 3200 kanals of land in Khanpur area of Nagrota tehsil in the outskirts of Jammu city, the Wildlife Department of State formally approached the Central Zoo Authority, whose approval is mandatory for establishment of zoo in any part of the country.
After detailed analysis of the J&K Government’s proposal, the Central Zoo Authority accorded nod to the construction of zoo at the identified site with facilities like eco-park, wildlife enclosures, birds century with large number of species from the world around, herbal park, cafeterias, facilities of public utilities, parking spots and other things which are available in the national level zoos across the country.
However, during the current year the Forest Ministry of the State decided to bring more area under the proposed zoo and accordingly a revised proposal (DPR) was prepared with the mention that zoo would be established on 5000 kanals of land as against earlier proposed area of 3200 kanals. Moreover, some more features were added in the proposal which included more number of species, sources said while disclosing that revision of the proposal led to increase in the cost of the project from Rs 77 crore to Rs 120 crore. But, the Central Zoo Authority has not cleared the revised proposal till date.
In anticipation of funds from different sources, the Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, Choudhary Lal Singh laid foundation of Jambu Zoo (Shivalik Biological Park) at Khanpur on September 10, 2016 and even made an announcement that the prestigious project will be completed within a period of two years.
“No-doubt, the Wildlife Department has started work on zoo by utilizing the amount to the tune of Rs 1.7 crore made available by the Forest Department from its own resources but it is still groping in dark about the committed source of funding”, sources said, adding “before the start of work on the project the Forest Department had written to the Finance Department for making provision for funding this project either from the State’s own resources or 14th Finance Commission Award”.
However, till date the Finance Department has not made any commitment to the Forest Department about availability of funds for this project, sources disclosed, adding “on one side the resources of the State may not permit release of Rs 60 crore per year to ensure completion of project in two years as was announced by the Forest Minister and on the other side there would be difficulties in diverting funds made available to the State under 14th Finance Commission Award”.
Stating that Forest Department was also planning to utilize some amount of Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds for the construction of zoo, sources said, “the Wildlife Department may also encounter difficulties in this regard as guidelines of CAMPA don’t permit utilization of funds for construction activities”, adding “the CAMPA funds are generally used for enhancing forest and tree cover”.
“Unless sufficient funds are made available this ambitious project, which would a long way in attracting more tourists to winter capital, cannot be completed within the stipulated time-frame”, sources said, adding “the Government should understand the importance of this project and see to it that funds constraints don’t become hurdle in its timely execution”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Jambu Zoo is proposed to be constructed on modern lines and the animals will be kept in moats and not in cages so that the visitors can see the animals in a natural environment.

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