Standing committee president Yashodhar Phanase on Saturday ordered the fast-tracking of ongoing revamp work that is underway at the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Garden and Zoo at Byculla. He also asked for feedback on the status of the development of the bird park in Powai's Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar garden.
The Byculla zoo was established in 1862 and is spread across 53 acres. It is one of the oldest zoos in the country. In 2013-14, a total 12,26,676 citizens (10,41,947 adults and 1,84,729 children) visited the zoo, which generated a revenue of Rs 66,14,032.
Its animals include the Asian elephant, Himalayan black bear, Sambar deer, military Macau, Bhutan peacock, african grey parrot, rosy pelican and red crowned crane among others.
As per information received from the Central government and orders of the Bombay High Court following a PIL in 2005, the BMC administration had framed a plan to revamp the zoo. As per the approved, an 'Animal Action Plan' and a Central Zoo Authority (CZA) circular, the master layout plan of the Byculla zoo has been prepared by HKS Designer & Consultant International Company Ltd (Thailand).
As per the Animal Action Plan approved by the CZA in the Byculla zoo, 18 Indian animals and five foreign animals will be kept in its premises.
The development of the zoo is proposed to be completed by December 2016. The entire project cost would be Rs 325 crore. In the financial year 2013-14, provisions of Rs 50 crore were made, of which Rs 14.6 crore has been spent on an animal training centre, an animal hospital, the compound wall and internal road work.
So far, the work of internal roads and construction of animal hospital has been completed. Work of quarantine area and animal training centre is 95 per cent complete. Work of heritage structures within the zoo is 80 per cent complete, but there is a lack of adequate veterinarians in the zoo.
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