By Our Reporter
Shillong: Delay looms over the modern zoo coming up around 35 km away from here in Ri-Bhoi district since work on the project is yet to gain the momentum.
The Forest department has already received Rs 12 crore from 12th Finance commission for the Rs 19-crore project and is expecting to get the remaining Rs 7 crore from the 13th Finance Commission.
Despite availability of the funds, the work on the zoo being set up in a 75-hectare area is still at a nascent stage.
The Forest department is the process of appointing experts to design the animal enclosures at the zoo at Mawlein Mawkhan, according to Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) VK Nautiyal.
Admitting the slow progress of the project, Nautiyal, however, said, “Designing of animal enclosures is a time consuming exercise besides a few local problems had earlier hindered the project.”
The master plan for the project, which is believed to be ready now, is yet to be approved by the Central Zoo Authority.
The zoo, though small in size, would be on par with other modern zoos in the country and house some big animals besides those to be shifted from the Lady Hydari Park in Shillong.
After shifting of the animals, once the new zoo is complete, the city zoo would remain just a public park.
Climatic conditions of the State will be taken into consideration while deciding on the animals to be brought from outside to the zoo, the PCCF said.
Nearly Rs 3-4 crore would have to be spent for maintenance of the zoo its the animals every year.
