Aiming to make it one-of-its-kind zoo in the country, the Maharashtra government today said it is planning a massive revamp of the Gorewada zoo in Nagpur.
"As part of the revamp process, I have directed senior officials of my department to chalk out a time-bound programme for the remake of the zoo and also to fill in all vacant posts, concerning the zoo within a month," state Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said.
The minister reviewed the progress of Gorewada Zoo Project at a meeting called in Nagpur today.
Vikas Kharge, Secretary, Department of Forests and A K Nigam, Managing Director, Forests Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited made a detailed presentation on the project.
The revamped Gorewada Zoo, that will be set up over 1,914 hectares of land, would be the largest in Asia.
"The Night Safari to be arranged here, would be the first of its kind in India. A rescue centre would be set up at Gorewada Zoo, in collaboration with an animal husbandry University, which will facilitate the students of veterinary sciences to study and treat the wild animals," Nigam explained.
Mungantiwar asked the officials at the meeting to draw a time-bound programme for the creation and development of the zoo.
The zoo is expected to have three attractions - The Indian Safari, The African Safari, and The Night Safari.
The minister asked the forests officials to complete the work of Indian Safari on priority basis.
He also asked them to complete the zoo as a PPP model and invite the tenders for related important works urgently, as also fill in the vacancies within a month.
Mungantiwar also directed the Principal Chief Conservator of the Wildlife to prepare and submit a report on procurement of wild animals for the zoo, at the earliest.
