Advisor (K) reviews progress on ‘Jambu Zoo’

Jammu: With a view to discuss progress on prestigious Jambu Zoo Project being developed by the Forest Department here at Khanpur area and to resolve the issues for its early completion, Advisor to Governor, K Vijay Kumar Monday chaired a meeting of the officers of Forest and other concerned department.
Commissioner Secretary Forest, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi, PCCF J&K Suresh Chugh, Secretary Tourism Rigzin Sampheal, CCF Jammu Sameer Bharti, Director Soil & Water Conservation P K Singh, Special Secretary Technical Forests K Ramesh, Regional Wildlife Warden Tariq Shawl, Director Finance Forest R S Bali, Director Planning Forest, Wildlife Warden Jambu Zoo and other concerned officers attended the meeting.
During the meeting, a brief background of the project was given by the Wildlife Warden Jambu Zoo along with the details of works done and other activities that are going on in the area. It was informed that the project has been approved at the cost of Rs 121 crore and the works is being taken up in a phased manner.
For the phase-I, the cost for the works has been estimated at Rs 49.71 crore, the meeting was informed.
It was told that around 27 attractive species will be brought at the Jambu Zoo after its completion including Royal Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Beer, Crocodile, Ghadiyal, Sambhar, Deer, Birds and Reptiles etc.
Abstract of works to be executed in Phase-I along with their estimated cost was discussed in detail. It was decided that to ensure completion of works in time within the provided funds, the works which are important should be executed in Phase-I and other may be undertaken in Phase-II.
The Advisor was further informed about the works that have been already done or undergoing including Leopard and Porcupine enclosures, Aviaries that are being constructed as per the guidelines of Central Zoo Authority (CZA). Present fund position and the expenditure that has incurred so far on the project was also discussed and deliberations were made to arrange funding for the execution of works to be taken up in Phase-I.
Further, the scope of taking up the tourism related activities at Jambu Zoo by the state’s Tourism department was also discussed with Secretary Tourism. The meeting was of the view that some activities can be proposed by the Tourism department for sanctioning of funds as the project would go a long way in attracting the tourists visiting the area thereby contributing in increasing the tourist footfall to the state.
Secretary Tourism, while sharing his inputs regarding the same, said that there are some GoI programmes under which certain tourism related activities can be proposed for approval. The Advisor asked the Wildlife Department to provide necessary details of the related works to the Tourism department so that something workable can be done in this regard.
Various other important issues that need to be resolved for the early completion of the project were also presented before the meeting and discussed briefly.
The Commissioner Secretary Forest highlighted various issues including additional requirement of funds for completion of works.
Addressing the officers, the Advisor asked for marking every activity with timeline and to ensure effective monitoring, supervision of all ongoing works. He also asked to plan a strategy to engage the visiting people at the Zoo by establishing entertainment points including cafeterias, recreational areas especially for the children.
He also asked for conducting a visitor study by some professional agency in a smart way to get an idea of what kind of facilities the visitors are looking at the Jambu Zoo. Adding other attractive activities in the Zoo area would surely help the visitors enjoy their trip, he added.
Advisor Kumar also asked for consulting experts dealing with wildlife and providing inputs for developing the Zoo on modern lines so that it would become one of the best wildlife park in the country.