Environment & Forest Secretary gives conditional extension to recognition
It was a sigh of relief for Maharajbag zoo, though temporary, when Secretary; Union Ministry for Environment and Forest C K Mishra, gave a conditional extension to its recognition.
The Central Zoo Authority (CZA) had derecognised it in December 2018, against which the Maharajbag zoo authorities knocked the doors of Secretary. Accordingly, a hearing was held in New Delhi on Monday where CZA officials and Maharajbag zoo authorities were present.
While giving extension, Secretary Mishra laid certain conditions asking the zoo to stop morning walkers, maintain the documents of zoo as per the rules, upgrade the enclosures of wild animals as per the CZA norms and also run the zoo administration as per the norms, the CAZ should take decision within a month for development of Maharajbag zoo and approval of its map, start the developmental works at the earliest as per rules, get the development works reviewed by CZA officials within a year. If the CZA officials are satisfied with the action and development works taken by Maharajbag zoo authorities, the recognition would continue further, Secretary Mishra said in his order.
Maharajbag Zoo Controller Dr Devanand Panchbhai urged Mr. Mishra to ask the CZA to approve the developmental plan and map, which is pending since 2016. Incharge Officer Dr Sunil Bawiskar during the hearing spoke about Maharajbag’s significance in Nagpur and people’s emotional attachment with it.
