Srinagar: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik revived the Jumbo Zoo at Khanpur Nagrota which was held up for lack of funds.
For this purpose, an area of 163.42 hectare of land has been transferred to Wildlife Department. The location is just 8 kilometers from Jammu City on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and on way to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. The project is estimated to cost an amount of Rs 62.41 Cr to be completed by December, 2020.
The work on the project was earlier initiated by the Wildlife Department through CAMPA funding and some amount was utilized. However, the work was stopped due to change in the guidelines of CAMPA funding which restricted the Government from allocating any further funds. The Government has now revisited and approved the project with balance amount of 49.17 Cr to be provided through Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation(JKIDFC).
The Zoo is expected to serve as an added tourist attraction especially for tourists coming to visit Jammu to pay obeisance at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Katra.
The revenue earnings from the project shall flow to the Government.
The Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology will rope in a person, with expertise in Zoo management to assist the department in the establishment of the Jumbo Zoo.
Further, the Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology will examine the possibility of developing an area outside the Zoo as a tourist hotel complex with allied facilities on the state land in consultation with the Tourism Department for convenience of the tourists/pilgrims.
