*Reviews progress on SBM-G
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 24: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today visited the Jambu Zoo to take first hand appraisal about the works being executed there besides assessing the facilities being extended to the visitors.
The Chief Secretary was accompanied by PCCF/Chief Wildlife Warden, Sarvesh Rai; Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu, Jyotsana; Additional Director, Jambu Zoo, Anil Atri and other senior officers of the department.
During his visit, the Chief Secretary inspected various animal enclosures, visitor’s facilities and reviewed the ongoing developmental works at the zoo.
The Chief Secretary expressed his vision for Jambu Zoo to achieve recognition at par with other prominent zoos of the country and of the international standards. He emphasised the need for devising a comprehensive developmental plan for future expansion of the zoo including creation of other educational, recreational and animal welfare facilities and enhancement of overall appeal of the zoo.
Earlier, the Chief Secretary was briefed by the Chief Wildlife Warden about the existing 17 enclosures in which different species of wild animals like tiger, lion, leopard, himalayan black bear, black buck, snake chambers and crocodile have been kept for public display. He was also informed that 13 different animal enclosures have been undertaken for construction during 2024-25. The prominent species to be housed in these enclosures will be hippopotamus, ostrich, Indian gaur, hyena, wolf, fishing cat etc. A walk through aviary is also in the construction stage where number of beautiful native as well as exotic species of birds shall be kept.
The future expansion plan of this zoo was also explained to the Chief Secretary in which 18 different animal enclosures will be constructed. The prominent species to be housed in the prospective plan shall be brown bear, snow leopard, zebra, giraffe, rhino, markhor, red panda etc.
It was divulged that a herbivores safari shall also be developed in the coming days to add more attraction to the Jambu Zoo and to raise it to the level of large zoos.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary chaired a meeting of Rural Development Department (RDD) to review progress on implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen (SBM-G) across the Union Territory.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of regular monitoring of community assets created by the Rural Sanitation Department.
He further instructed that ground level staff be tasked with uploading of geo-tagged photos and videos of these assets periodically to ensure updated information is readily available to the authorities.
Dulloo called for making budgetary provisions to establish Gobardhan units in all districts and stressed their optimal utilisation to benefit rural communities.
The Chief Secretary underscored the significance of establishing faecal sludge treatment facilities in various districts, deeming them crucial for maintaining clean and ambient rural surroundings. He also advocated creation of carbon-neutral panchayats across the Union Territory and urged the department to certify such initiatives to validate their impact.
Secretary, RDD, Aijaz Assad, provided an overview of the department’s achievements under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen.
Director General of Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra, apprised the meeting of significant progress made during the current financial year.
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