*Reviews protection of lakes, wetlands
Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 20: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo conducted a comprehensive review meeting to assess the expansion plan for Jambu Zoo. The meeting focused on the revised layout plan, which includes the construction of new animal enclosures, a walk-through aviary, infrastructure developments, and additional visitor facilities to enhance the zoo’s appeal.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary reviewed the current footfall at the zoo and engaged in detailed deliberations on strategies to increase visitor numbers. He emphasized the need to position Jambu Zoo as a prime destination, particularly during the summer months, to attract a larger audience.
Chief Wildlife Warden Sarvesh Rai provided a detailed presentation outlining the existing facilities designed for visitor convenience and the ambitious expansion plans for the coming years.
The Chief Secretary was informed that 13 new animal enclosures are under construction during 2024-25, with plans to introduce prominent species such as the hippopotamus, ostrich, Indian gaur, hyena, wolf, and fishing cat.
About the infrastructure augmentation in the zoo it was added that the development plan includes the creation of nature trails and elevated walkways, log huts and tree houses, themed resting areas, and a toy train for children, enhancing the overall visitor experience.
A major attraction planned for the future is a Fossil/Dinosaur Park, aimed at educating and entertaining visitors. Additionally, an AR/VR setup will be installed, offering an immersive experience where visitors can explore extinct and rare species in a virtual habitat. Plans also include supervised feeding sessions with prime species, further enhancing visitor engagement.
Chief Secretary emphasized the need for sustained efforts in the zoo’s development to make it a world-class attraction. The expansion plans align with the broader vision of enhancing wildlife conservation, visitor engagement, and eco-tourism in the region.
Meanwhile, Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting of the Forest, Ecology & Environment Department to assess its functioning besides reviewing the progress on ongoing conservation measures for protection of lakes and wetlands in the Union Territory.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the officers to frame a comprehensive action plan based on scientific principles for rehabilitation of degraded forest areas within a stipulated time frame.
To enhance the efficiency of forest land management, the Chief Secretary instructed the officials to expedite the survey and demarcation of forest lands by installing boundary pillars and digitizing the records. This step aims to effectively curb encroachments and safeguard forest resources, he maintained.
Focusing on afforestation efforts, Dulloo asked the department to accelerate the plantation drives to meet the ambitious target of planting 1.5 crore saplings by the end of the upcoming plantation season.
Highlighting the ecological importance of wetlands, the Chief Secretary underscored their crucial role in the ecosystem and called for rigorous conservation efforts. He directed the officials to ensure proper demarcation and protection of wetlands, along with improving water quality and other relevant parameters to enhance their sustainability.
Regarding Wular Lake conservation, the Chief Secretary instructed both the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and the Commissioner Secretary, Forests to personally visit the site. They were asked to review the status of the ongoing conservation works and devise a mechanism to accelerate their execution.
Regarding the conservation of Kishtwar High Altitude National Park, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need for increased manpower and furthering efforts to achieve tangible results. He pointed out that the scale of work required exceeds the current workforce, necessitating moving of additional resources on the ground for meeting the objectives set for its mitigation.
Additionally, the Chief Secretary stressed the early approval and implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in coordination with other departments. He instructed for formation of an inter-departmental coordination panel responsible for ensuring smooth execution of the plan by aligning available funds with the envisioned schemes.
Commissioner Secretary, FE&E, Sheetal Nanda, presented an overview of the functioning of the department.
In his presentation, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Suresh Kumar Gupta, highlighted that the UT has a forest area of around 20,194 sq km (47.8 % of Geographical area) with a tree cover of 151.8 million trees as per Draft ToF Report, 2023.
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