Construction of at least ten enclosures at the State Zoo at Umtrew in Ri-Bhoi district will start in December.
This was informed today by Chief Executive Officer of State Zoo Implementation Committee P R Marak.
“The preliminary work order for construction of at least ten enclosures at the State Zoo at Umtrew, Ri-Bhoi district has been given and once the security deposit of approximately Rs 5 crore is done the final work order will be issued and work will be started tentatively by the first week of December,” Marak told Highland Post.
He also informed that the tender for construction of a 3.355 km metallic internal road at the State Zoo has been approved and once they received the security deposit of Rs 1.2 crore the final work order will be issued for the road.
Marak said that the governing body has accepted the tenders for the construction of the enclosure and boundary wall by two contractors – S Sawkmie and Ambor Ramsiej.
Maintaining that the government aims to inaugurate the State Zoo at Umtrew at the 50th anniversary of Meghalaya statehood in 2022, Marak said the project will be completed within two years.
He informed that the financial sanction received for the construction of the State Zoo is approximately Rs 13 crores.
Marak said that the zoo will also bring major relief to the animal enclosed at Lady Hydari Park in the city even as he informed that for the other eight enclosures, the Central Zoo Authority has asked to make some correction and the same will be approved very soon.
“As soon as the eight enclosures are also approved by the Central Zoo Authority we will also call the tender for the same,” he said adding that beside staff quarters the zoo will also have a digital plaza where it will have an interpretation centre, museum, administrative office and a veterinary clinic.
Marak however informed that there has been no proposal to bring any exotic species in the zoo from outside but the proposal to date has been for all the indigenous species that are within Meghalaya.
Terming the State Zoo as a very ambitious project and one of the most beautiful zoos considering the location, he said that the zoo will not only boost tourism but also benefit the local people to quite an extent.
It may be noted that land of 72 hectares for the State Zoo at Umtrew was acquired in 2001 and the Central Zoo Authority has given its approval for the State Zoo which will have eight enclosures.
