Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has said that the State Zoological Park at Umtrew in Ri Bhoi is on track and it is expected to be ready before Independence Day.
Sangma who inspected the ongoing construction work at the zoo told reporters that by June-July the infrastructure work should be completed and the government is looking at opening it in August.
“There have been numerous challenges that were there along the way, but I am happy to see that we have progressed to this point whereby I have been told that we expect the infrastructure to be ready within the next 45 days,” he said, adding, “I am hoping that we will meet the target of opening it before August 15.”
The Chief Minister said that the new zoo will meet the national standards and all animals from the Phan Nonglait Park will be shifted to the new facility that is more spacious and with needed necessary safety measures that are required.
He said Black Bears, Leopards, Clouded Leopards, different kinds of Deer, Foxes, Hornbills will be kept in the new zoo and the government also intends to open a bird sanctuary and a water body for migratory birds and hillock gibbons. Besides, animals indigenous to the state, animals from outside the state will also be brought in a phase manner, he added.
Sangma said besides the forest department who will look after the new zoo the State government will also involve entrepreneurs and private sectors in order to run it in a more professional manner. He also suggested that the local or private parties shall be engaged to run ancillary activities such as ticketing, Cafeteria, souvenir shop, food stall, vehicle services etc.
He informed that the government has spent over Rs 21 crore out of the sanctioned Rs 35 crore for zoo, which is housed in a 72 hectares land. The first phase work includes – construction of 15 animal’s enclosures, Visitor’s Plaza, Cafeteria, Veterinary Clinic, Feed Store, Main Gate etc.
In the second phase another Rs. 14 plus crore will be added besides private investment, he added.
“It has been a very satisfactory visit. The infrastructure would be ready for tourists soon. After the concerned clearances provided by Government of India, and Central Zoo Authority, we will open the gates for visitors. We aim to create more tourism facilities such as trekking paths, ropeway, children’s park, interpretation center, within the zoo premises to increase tourist footfall,” the Chief Minister said.
It is anticipated that an increase in the number of tourists who travel to the state, as well as acceleration in the flow of domestic and international tourists, will occur in the not-too-distant future. Foot traffic from tourists was 12.7 lakh in 2019, and it is anticipated that this number will exceed 15 lakh by the year 2024.
