Pimpri Chinchwad civic body to revise mini-zoo plan after CZAI rap

The Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) has written to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) suggesting changes in the proposed Bahinabai Chaudhary mini-zoo plan, drawing the municipality’s attention to deviations from its guidelines for the zoo’s draft plan.

The CZAI has asked the PCMC to make the changes immediately and send back the revised plan to the central government.
The PCMC zoo superintendent, Anil Khaire, told DNA, “The CZAI had suggested changes, especially in the development works related to the engineering department. We have sent the suggestions to the engineering department.”

The PCMC engineering department co-coordinator, Dilip Kudale, said he is yet to receive instructions from the PCMC zoo.

Last year, the PCMC sent a draft plan of its ‘mini-zoo’ to CZAI with the estimated cost of Rs15 crore on the existing premises of the Bahinabai Chaudhary Snake Park in Sambhajinagar, Chinchwad. The civic body will develop the zoo in phases.

The CZAI had given permission to the PCMC to redevelop the Bahinabai zoo into a small zoo based on the reptile-amphibian and butterfly theme. The CZAI had approved the small-zoo status and directed the civic body to prepare a master plan for the same.

A 12-member committee, under the chairmanship of Subhash Dumbre, PCMC additional commissioner, was formed to prepare the master plan.

The mini-zoo will house mostly reptiles from the Western Ghats and some endangered reptile species found across the country. There will be 20 species of snakes, three to four species of frogs and 10 to 12 species of aquatic birds. The zoo is part of a conservation and breeding programme on the local, national and international levels.