Construction of National Zoological Garden in Suryabinayak in limbo
Kathmandu, May 30
Construction of National Zoological Garden, resembling natural habitat for wild life, which will also serve as an ex-situ conservation site for the protection and breeding of endangered and exotic animals, is in limbo due to negligence of the concerned ministries.
The Cabinet in February 2015, had decided to construct National Zoological Garden in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, based on a proposal and feasibility study report submitted by the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Four years have passed since, however, authorities concerned are yet to draft a detailed project report of the project.
The project aims to create a safe haven for the wildlife in the forest area, spread along the 245.165 hectares and a 16-km perimeter of community forests.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, on 23 June 2016 had laid the foundation stone of the zoological park amidst a programme. But, work at the site has yet to make a headway. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, the authority responsible for constructing the project has so far completed wire-fencing on the perimeter of the proposed park, dug a deep boring plant and built a building for housing security personnel to guard the park. The government had allocated a budget of Rs 55 million in the fiscal 2016-17 for the project.
Narayan Rupakheti at DoNPWC said the department was still awaiting budget from the government to carry out DPR for the mega project. Rupakheti, talking to THT, said the department has written to ministries like the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Forest to provide it with budget to execute the project. “But, we have not been provided the money yet,” he said.
The DoNPWC has sought Rs100 million from the government for the DPR. DoNPWC estimated the total project cost to be around Rs six billion. Officials of DoNPWC claimed they would complete the project within five years once the budget is provided. The park will have to ensure ‘shelter-food-water’ facilities for the animals that are placed inside it.
Apart from creating facilities resembling natural habitat for wild animals, DoNPWC has planned to build an ex-situ conservation site for the protection and breeding of endangered and exotic animals. The master-plan of the garden has also envisioned building a rescue centre and an animal hospital, inside the park.
Rupakheti said the park would also produce a large amount of fodders for herbivorous animals in Bara and Parsa national parks, where animal food gets reduced during the dry season.
Spokesperson for DoNPWC Bishnu Prasad Shrestha said, the government lately has become positive in regards to their demand for the budget. “We are confident that work on the zoological garden will begin soon,” Shrestha said.
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