Indian Express 12.08.2010
Waiting for its lions and tigers, enclosure wall caves in at new zoo
Express News Service Tags : animals, zoo Posted: Thu Aug 12 2010, 04:15 hrs
Vadodara: The Central Zoo Authority’s decision to shift the animals at Sayajibaug Zoo, the oldest in Gujarat, to the new premises at Ajwa, has put the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) in a fix.The Sayajibaug Zoo has been in the spotlight after local animal activists pointed out loopholes in the system. With this, CZA directed VMC to shift the animals to Ajwa Zoo, which is still under-construction. But the recent spate of rain led to the collapse of the wall of the lion and tiger enclosures, exposing the sub-standard work of the contractor.
The civic body has now ordered an inquiry into the incident.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner A O Sharma said: “As soon as I came to know of the incident, I asked the city engineer to inquire into the incident. Notices have been served to least three persons, including the contractor.”
Incidentally, the relocation of animals to Ajwa has been delayed by years.
“It is true that we are late in shifting the zoo to the new premises. It will take at least a year before it is fully developed,” said a VMC official.
The Opposition Congress has accused the BJP for the poor quality of the work at the new zoo.
“The total cost of the wall was Rs 39 lakh and half of the amount was given by the Centre. The total funding for the animal enclosure was Rs 1.60 crore and another Rs 1 crore was raised for the tree plantation project by organising a show in which Bollywood star Ravina Tandon had come. So, despite getting Rs 3 crore, the work at the new zoo is moving at a snail’s pace and even after eight years, we have nothing to show in the name of a new zoo,” said Pushpa Waghela from Congress.
