SHILLONG: The setting up of a state-of-the art zoo at Mawlein Mawkhan in Ri Bhoi district will be delayed further as the project has to cross several hurdles before it sees the light of the day.
The project has already been delayed by four years but even now authorities have not been able to fix a tentative deadline to complete it.
Sources said that the approach road of the zoo was cut off by the National Highway Authority of India which is working on the Guwahati-Shillong road expansion project.
Moreover, the department needs additional land for the project and it cannot do anything as long as it does not get the additional land required for the zoo.
The Department has sought for around 32 acres of land for the zoo and the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner is on the job to acquire more land.
The Union Government recently approved the master plan of the zoo to set the dice rolling.
It may be mentioned that the State Forest Department has already received Rs 12 crore out of Rs 19 crore from the 12th finance commission and the remaining Rs 7 crore is scheduled to be sanctioned by the 13th Finance Commission.
Sources though admitted that the department at first needs to utilise the sanctioned amount before asking for additional fund from the Centre.
The initial budget of the project was Rs 19 crore but the project cost is likely to escalate by 30 per cent
The Forest department is still awaiting the approval of the blue print of the project by the Central Zoo authority as the authority had made some specifications in the blueprint and forest department is hoping that it will be approved soon.
After the completion, the zoo that is replete with modern amenities, would be able to house several large animals including all the animals presently kept at the Lady Hydari Park in Shillong. The zoo is to be built on a 75-hectare plot in Ri Bhoi district around 35 kilometers from Shillong. An amount of Rs 3-4 crore would be incurred for the maintenance of the zoo every year.
