09 November,2016 09:01 AM IST | | Laxman Singh
Corporation floats tenders of Rs 120 crore for constructing 19 enclosures for new animals that will be brought in from other zoos
Even as Byculla zoo's penguin project continues to be the bone of contention among authorities as well as politicians, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated tenders for constructing 19 enclosures for new animals under the zoo revamp plan.
The Building Maintenance (BM) department floated fresh tenders of Rs 120.50 crore for the second phase of enclosure works for Asiatic lion, Bengal tiger, sloth bear, jackal and wolf that will be housed in the city zoo.
In the first phase, BMC is getting a specially designed exhibit and quarantine enclosures built for Humboldt penguins, a three-storey administrative building and an interpretation centre. While the enclosures are ready, the building is remaining.
New works
A senior civic official said, "It is a huge project, and hence, we have divided it in parts, so that most of the work can be started simultaneously. The second phase deals with bringing animals and birds mentioned in the master plan from other zoos in India.
Besides, enclosures for mammals and birds, an enclosure for reptiles is also proposed in this phase."
The BMC has set a deadline of 2017-end for completing all enclosures. Finalising a contractor takes around two months, but owing to the delay in getting one for this project, it seems unlikely that the deadline will be met.
A source from the BM department said, "This is the third time we have re-invited bids for the second phase. The previous two times, no contractor showed any interest in the project."
Here's what happened
Byculla zoo is undergoing a Rs 150 crore revamp since the last eight months. On July 26, as part of the revamp plan, the BMC had brought eight Humboldt penguins from Seoul's Coex Aquarium. The zoo authority came under fire from citizens and activists after a female penguin aged 1.5 years died due to a bacterial infection on October 23.
Animal lovers and NGOs alleged that the penguin died due to negligence and lack of proper facilities needed for her upkeep.
After finding several irregularities by contractor Highway Construction Company in the project, the BMC cancelled its tender.
mid-day had (November 8) reported about an international organisation, Humane Society International (HSI) India, writing to the Delhi-based CITES (Convention for International Trade of Engendered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) to send the remaining penguins back to South Korea.
