CZA seeks time to reply on safari park plea

The high court on Thursday, on the request of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), adjourned hearing on a public interest litigation challenging permission to Ambardi Safari Park in Amreli district.

The petitioner has challenged permission granted by CZA through an averment. The matter will be heard on July 25

The first division bench of chief justice R Subhash Reddy and justice Vipul Pancholi is hearing a petition filed by Biren Padhya.

Petitioner’s advocate Nandish Thackar submitted that during the pendency of this petition, the CZA granted permission to the safari park in violation of rules and guidelines. The core contention of the original petition was the technical team granted permission without carrying out an inspection of the park. The CZA too followed suit. The second contention pertains to rehabilitation of animals. There is no word about it in the permission, and according to the petitioner’s information there are at least 250 to 300 Chinkaras within the fence of the safari park.

After considering the averments made by the petitioner, assistant solicitor general Devang Vyas sought more time to file a reply as they did not have instructions from the CZA about this development. 

Petitioner had challenged the permission on the ground that along with chinkaras there Schedule I & II animals in the safari park, and they have not been rehabilitated in the forest. The park is also in violation of the eco-sensitive zone norms.