Nadukani zoo-safari park project to be fast-tracked, says Minister O.J. Janeesh

The activities related to the proposed zoo-safari park at Nadukani will be expedited, said Sports, Youth Affairs and Museums Minister O.J. Janeesh.

Speaking after a review meeting held at the Taliparamba block panchayat hall on the proposed project, the Minister said much time had already been lost. To speed up work and coordinate departments, a local committee has been formed with the Taliparamba MLA as chairman and the Zoo department Superintendent as convenor.

The committee comprises the District Collector, block panchayat president, presidents of Kurumathur and Chapparapadavu grama panchayat, within which the project area falls, the Revenue Divisional Officer, a representative of Social Forestry wing, Safari Park Special Officer and other officials.

To-speed-up project implementation, a precise schedule will be prepared for activities that need to be completed on an urgent basis, Mr. Janeesh said. Once the procedures, including preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), are completed, a detailed meeting will be convened in the presence of the Chief Minister, he said.

The meeting decided to take forward the preparation of contour map, environmental impact assessment, and related activities.

The Kerala Forest Research Institute (KFRI) will be entrusted with preparing an inventory of the more than 1,000 trees in the project area. At the same time, immediate steps will be initiated to secure the 252.8 acres project site handed over the Revenue department to the Zoo department, including construction of a compound wall.

The Minister said a proposal for obtaining approval from the Central Zoo Authority can be prepared only after the DPR is completed. In accordance with the conditions of the land transfer, the existing Plantation Corporation workers would be absorbed into the project and additional workers would be recruited as per requirement

MLA T.K. Govindan, District Collector P. Vishnuraj, Taliparamba Museum Zoo department director P.S. Manjula Devi, other public representatives and officials attended the meeting.