Work on Ri Bhoi zoo begins

SHILLONG, May 30: After several hurdles and hiccups, the construction of the proposed zoo at Ri Bhoi has finally begun and the government is optimistic that the modern zoo would be up and running in a very short time. Forest and Environment Minister James Sangma confirmed that the construction work for the project has started but many challenges have cropped up due to COVID-19.
The project was in a limbo for years but the government has now sanctioned the projects. “Since the preliminary work had started, we are hopeful that very soon, we will have the project up and running despite COVID-19 challenges and officers are working hard to make sure that project is completed,” the minister said.
The Meghalaya government was keen on making the modernised zoo in Ri Bhoi district ready by next year but that does not seem possible in view of the COVID situation prevailing everywhere
Once the modernised zoo is ready, the present zoo in Shillong will be relocated to Ri Bhoi, and the venue, which is now known as the Ka Phan Nonglait Park, will be used for recreational purposes.
It may be mentioned that the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has already given the necessary clearances for the modernised zoo.
In March 2019, the CZA had approved the master plan for the zoo, while the detailed drawings of the animal enclosures and other segments of the zoo were left to be approved by the authority.
Earlier, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) had observed that even after 10 years of release of grants, work on the state zoo had not progressed, while stating that the project had been marred due the “mishandling” by the state Forest and Environment department. In a report, the CAG mentioned that the 12th Finance Commission in 2005 had recommended a grant of Rs 30 crore to construct a zoological park at Umtrew in Ri Bhoi.
Accordingly, an amount of Rs 12 crore was released to the Forest and Environment department in 2007.
A modernised zoo is the need of the hour as the state is yet to have a proper zoo apart from the Phan Nonglait Park where half of the park area is meant for recreational activities, leaving the rest of the area for animal enclosures.