Maharashtra to get two zoos

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Maharashtra to get two zoos

 

BS Reporter / Mumbai/ Nagpur December 12, 2006

 

 

 

Maharashtra government plans to develop two world class zoos in the state at

Goregaon in Mumbai and at Gorewara on the outskirts of Nagpur.

 

Both the zoos will be developed on build-operate-transfer basis by private

companies who will be allowed to construct a seven star hotel, budget

hotels, convention centres, shopping plazas and eateries out of the

demarcated zoo area for recovering their investment.

 

A proposal to this effect is awaiting clearance from the Law and Judiciary

department, forest minister, Babanrao Pachpute clarified on the floor of the

state legislative assembly.

 

He said that private sector giants had evinced interest in the projects

which would require an investment of about Rs 2,000 crore.

 

The Gorewara Zoo, if and when it comes up, will be the only zoo in the world

which is barely 6 kms from a thriving city of over 2.5 million people, said

Pachpute. Work on this project is expected to start in 2007, he said.

 

Arguing that the zoo should not be looked as a non-productive activity,

Pachpute said that it had the potential of generating terrific employment.

 

The state government has initiated steps to acquire close to 600 acres of

land from the animal husbandry department at Arrey Milk Colony at Goregaon

and 100 acres from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The Goregaon zoo,

however, would be much smaller than the one being planned near Nagpur.

 

The Gorewara Zoo will sprawl over 1,850 hectares and would have huge ?open

enclosures? for animals including the big cats. The animals will be in as

natural an environment as can be provided in such a facility, Pachpute

remarked.

 

He said that the zoo project here should not be viewed in isolation. ?It

will be big all by itself, but along with several other not-so-well-known

tourist spots in Vidarbha, it should prove a big hit when it comes on the

international tourism circuit,? Pachpute explained.

 

There are four national parks and 13 wildlife sanctuaries in Vidarbha and

once the city comes on the international circuit all will get the attention

they deserve. The city will benefit by the tourist traffic that is generated

and new businesses that will spring up, he informed.

 

A proposal given by the Nagpur University vice chancellor, S N Pathan for

developing a bio-diversity park was also under consideration, Pachpute said.

 

 

He said that an eco-tourism policy had been prepared by the state and around

56 places identified for further development. Most of these places figure in

Vidarbha, he maintained.

 

He said that the government intended improving on facilities available at

the three tiger reserves near Nagpur and also encourage special package

tours for Tadoba, Pench and Itiadoh reserves.

 

The state government is also planning to develop the Tadoba National Park

and Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and make them better than the famed Kanha

National Park of Madhya Pradesh.

 

Earlier, BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis had demanded a discussion on the Gorewada

Zoo. He asked for a road-map of development in the proposed project and said

that political promises had a way of fading away where Vidarbha was

concerned. " It is always better that things are reduced to black and white, "

he said.

 

Fadnavis also wanted the forest department to acquire land from farmers on

market rate and that the existing Maharajbagh Zoo in the centre of the city

be developed on the lines of the famous Vrindavan Garden near Mysore.

Pachpute agreed to the suggestion.

 

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