Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 10: Minister for Forests, Environment and Ecology Choudhary Lal Singh today directed officers of Wildlife Department to gear up men and machinery to start work for establishment of Jambu Zoo at Khanpur.
He asked them to accelerate works under Phase-I including entry gate, parking, approach road, interpretation centre, cafeteria, rest house, lakes, waterfall and chain link fencing within stipulated time frame.
The Minister was interacting with the Wildlife Department officers during the inspection of Zoo site and works initiated so far.
Chief Wildlife Warden Suresh Chug, Chief Conservator of Forests Roshan Jaggi besides other senior officers of Wildlife Department accompanied the Minister.
Choudhary Lal Singh said that the project would go a long way to boost tourism in the City of Temples as the animals in the zoo will be kept in moats and not in cages to attract maximum visitors. He said that the prestigious project will also have several facilities of tourist attraction like battery cars and zoo safari. He directed for plantation along the circular road.
Later, the Minister also chaired meeting with officers of Forest, Wildlife and demarcation wings and asked them to put their sincere efforts to contain encroachment of forest land and smuggling of timber and fire wood. He asked them to carry out demarcation and fencing of entire forest land in their respective jurisdictions.
Underscoring the need for taking concrete measures for conservation of rich environs of the State, the Minister asked the officers to create awareness among the general public about conservation of the natural resources, especially the Green Gold which is the backbone of the State’s economy.
Warning the encroachers and smugglers, Choudhary Lal Singh said nobody will be allowed to plunder the forests and harm the wildlife. He said stringent action will be initiated against the erring persons. He also instructed the officers to furnish the list of revenue officers/officials who make illegal entries of the forest land so that culprit be booked under law.
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