Heritage panel defers Byculla zoo revamp again

He said that as per the heritage committee’s observations,the project can be cleared only if particular steps are taken in that direction.

The new zoo plan,drawn up by the Thailand-based HKS Designer and Consultancy in 2007,received its conditional approval from MHCC on June 11 last year. However,the committee also issued 11-point conditions which,it said,should be clarified before a final approval is given. Its contention was that the revamp should be done keeping in mind that: the existing green cover is preserved; the percentage of green area available to public should be preserved; the traditional activities like the existing nursery,fruit and the flower shows should not be hindered; the axil planning of the garden which is in Renaissance style should be preserved; and that the heritage structures like the clock tower,the Bhau Daji Lad museum building and the temple arch should be preserved.

The CZA approval for the zoo revamp came in July 2009.

To be built in four phases,the new zoo will have 98 new species of animals,including foreign ones listed in Schedule I of endangered species like cheetah and orangutans. Sharing living space with them would be local leopards,lions and Asian elephants. Incidentally,the initial plan also had attraction like night safaris which was later discarded as per the CZA advise. The new zoo will have educative programmes like children’s exploration centres,theme gardens and viewing shelters or glass cabins from where people can take a closer look at the animal. Another major attraction will be the taxidermy museum,the first in Mumbai,which the zoo will house.

“We are now awaiting the MHCC’s comments and will take steps in that direction immediately after we are appraised about it,” zoo director A Anjankar said.