Centre clips Chandigarh Administration's wings on aviary project near Sukhna Lake

Dushyant Singh Pundir

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 2

The Central Government has clipped the wings of the UT Administration on an aviary project coming up at Nagar Van (City Forest) near Sukhna Lake till relevant approvals are received.

In a letter dated August 24, 2021, to the Chief Wildlife Warden, UT, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, stated that it has been brought to the notice of the Ministry that the UT Administration has purchased several exotic birds and is in the process of setting up and inaugurating a zoo in Chandigarh.

Officers satisfied

A team of officers from the Central Zoo Authority has already visited the site and expressed satisfaction over the facilities created at the aviary. — Debendra Dalai, Chief Wildlife Warden, UT

“The purchase and proposed inauguration of the zoo has not been done as per the laid down procedure,” stated the Assistant Inspector General of Forest (Wildlife), and requested the Chief Wildlife Warden to discontinue the process till the time all necessary approvals are granted by the competent authority and refrain from formal opening of the impugned zoo.

However, Debendra Dalai, Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, UT, said: “Subsequent to this letter, a team of officers from the Central Zoo Authority already visited the site and expressed their satisfaction over the facilities being created at the aviary.”

The team visited the site on August 27, and after inspection, they were satisfied with the project. He said they were hopeful of getting a formal letter from the authorities in this regard soon.

Being established on more than four acres by the UT Forests and Wildlife Department, the aviary will have 1,470 exotic birds of 46 species.

The aviary will have a separate enclosure for aquatic and terrestrial birds. The heights of the enclosures have been designed keeping in view the flight of the birds.

In a representation to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on August 9, RK Garg, president, Second Innings Association, has sought necessary action regarding caging of birds at the proposed aviary. The association demanded necessary directions as per various rules for making of aviaries, procurement and safe-keeping of birds, ensuring their fundamental rights to fly free.

In response, the AWBI issued a letter to the Forest Department, Chandigarh. In reply to the letter, the UT Forest Department, through a letter dated August 18, clarified that the department has developed two walk areas through aviaries at Nagar Van within the city limit for housing exotic birds only, which are commonly bred in India.

The procurement of exotic birds was done only from registered, reputed and authentic sellers/breeders/suppliers and not from any grey market. These supplies are registered with the Animal Welfare Board of Tamil Nadu and also registered on PARIVESH portal of the Ministry.

Before selecting the sellers, a committee consisting of officers from different departments and the Forest Department cross-verified all details and sources of birds were traced by physically visiting the facilities on site.

These exotic birds are housed for nature education and for all non-commercial usage or public displays. It was also submitted that all necessary approval of the competent authority has been taken for the project and none of the rules, guidelines or laws have been violated in the process.