JAMMU, APRIL 14: Principal Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment, Deeraj Gupta, today inspected development works being executed in Jambu Zoo which is expected to be dedicated to the general public soon. Suresh Kumar Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden, briefed about various ongoing works in the Zoo. He apprised the Principal Secretary of the status of critical Zoo infrastructures such as animal enclosures, power supply, amphitheatre, animal kitchen, animal hospital, staff quarters, main entrance gate, orientation centre, ticketing counters, Souvenir shop, kiosk, cafeteria, view points, Jammu Di Dhakki, toilets and other public amenities. Deeraj Gupta, while noticing significant progress achieved, directed the department to expedite balance work on parking area, roads, Sulabh shauchalaya, Nature Interpretation Centre, shelter sheds, herbivore pathway and related works by deploying additional manpower and machineries. He instructed the officers to carryout site cleaning, plantation, greening, enrichment and beautification activities simultaneously, in and around whole zoo infrastructure. Principal Secretary asked the officers to detail the “in-house” animal shifting plan of Manda Mini Zoo animals to the New Jambu Zoo based on the evaluation carried out by Central Zoo Authority (CZA) experts. He asked for expediting clearances’ from CZA and Ministry of Defense respectively for water supply right of way passing through defense area. Deeraj Gupta asked the department’s officials, engineers, contractors and service providers to put in their best effort to make zoo operationally ready by last week of April for trial run. Regional Wildlife Warden Jammu, Wildlife Warden, Jambu Zoo and other senior officers of department of wildlife protection and representatives of executing agencies were present on the occasion.
