SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane has proposed a State-of-the-art animal safari in Goa in line with safaris offered in Kevadia, Gujarat.
Rane on Tuesday met Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and sought assistance to execute the proposal.
“Following in the footsteps of an animal safari developed in Kevadia, we sought advice from the Union minister to work closely with the ministry in the developing a State-of-the-art animal safari in Goa,” the Minister said.
The department has already taken on board retired IFS officer Vinay Luthra’s services to chalk out various plans- short, medium and long term- for the up-gradation of wildlife sanctuaries in Goa, over the next five years that also include animal safari concept in and around Bondla wildlife.
During the meeting with Union Minister, a development plan for Bondla Zoo was also discussed. The zoo will be upgraded to showcase fauna found in the Western Ghats, Rane said.
“We also discussed the Bondla Zoological Park’s integrated and holistic development to showcase the diverse fauna of the Western Ghats and other regions in a naturalistic setting,” the State Minister said adding that a master plan, including all the proposals, has already been submitted to Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for approval.
Apart from this, the Minister also discussed proposals for integrated development of wildlife habitat under which the State has sought approval for maintenance of grasslands, enrichment plantation with fruit-bearing trees, creation and maintenance of forest roads, and nature camping facilities in protected areas, etc.
He said the proposals discussed also included the creation of artificial watering holes in protected areas of Goa using solar pumps and nature guide training programmes and capacity building of local youth for eco-tourism activities.
On Wednesday, Rane met the Director General of Forest and Special Secretary to MoEF Chandra Prakash Goyal to discuss the same.
