MoEF launches portal for grant of recognistion of zoos

 In its move to bring more transparency and efficiency, the Environment and Forest ministry today launched a web portal for grant of recognistion and monitoring of zoos.

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar launched the portal that envisages to maintain and provide real time information about the recognition and evaluation process to the stakeholders.

The ministry had earlier launched an online system for getting environment and forest clearances.

"People give applications for recognition (of zoos). Just like we had launched online system for getting environment and forest clearance, we are starting this portal for grant of recognition and monitoring of zoos," Javadekar said while launching the portal.

According to officials, the portal intends to reduce the bottlenecks of manual recognition system and fully automates the recognition process.

"This would help in saving time and resources, make record, keeping communication easy and convenient and reduces the need of human intervention and thus probability of errors and delays," they said.

It would also increase transparency, efficiency, accountability and also reduces the use of paper, they added.

Javadekar also launched an e-archival and retrieval management system for the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and a book on "Zoos in India 2014".

The e-archival system is systematic approach to the management of files which is essential for organisations to protect and preserve files.

Ahead of the launch function, during the 27th meeting of the CZA, the proposal regarding establishment of an Elephant Rescue Centre at Bansantour in Haryana by the state forest department was also discussed and approved in principle.

"Apart from that, exempting only select zoos to retain elephants subject to fulfilment of all condition recommended by the committee constituted for the purpose was also approved", an official statement said.

Javadekar, who is the chairman of CZA, also approved the site for office space of CZA at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.