On the backburner: CDA’s grandiose zoo expansion plan a grand flop

Civic agency had envisaged extending it over 80 acres at a cost of Rs1.4 billion.

ISLAMABAD:

Be it bureaucratic apathy or paucity of funds, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has put the Islamabad Zoo expansion project on the backburner.

In 2008, the civic agency came up with a Rs1.408 billion zoo expansion project which was due for completion in 2011. Three years past the completion date, the project remained in the doldrums and only two animal enclosures have been at a cost of Rs18 million.

Under the project, Marghzar Zoo, presently spread over 20 acres, was to be expanded to 80 acres with the establishment of 70 additional enclosures for new animals.  Initially, the project was split into five phases, but work on the first phase wrapped up with the construction of only two enclosures. The civic agency has failed to give any plausible explanation as to why the project was given such low priority.

A CDA environment wing official, while requesting not to be named, said the project remained low priority for civic agency high-ups despite continuing interest within the environment wing. “Every year, the environment wing requests budget allocations for the project, but the high ups turn a deaf ear to the demand,” he said.

“CDA bosses were never serious about executing the project. They are only interested in the Kashmir Highway [widening] project,” he said.

Another official of the same department, who requested not to be named, said that since January, a 10-member committee of experts, which has representation from the CDA, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Punjab Wildlife Department, has only held two meetings.

The official said that a WWF representative expressed his concerned over redesigning the zoo, as it did not meet international standards.

“I personally believe the CDA top management is not in a position to own the project and will not allocate funds for it in the next budget,” he said.

“Their top priorities are the Kashmir Highway and metro bus projects,” he said.

Currently, the zoo lacks exotic animals that are commonly considered zoo staples, especially big cats.  In addition, no attempt has been by the civic agency to bring a new elephant to replacement of Saheli, the female elephant which died in 2012. Her mate, Kaavan, has become a recluse since then.

“I am surprised by what kind of zoo this is. There are not enough animals or birds to attract crowds,” said Muhammad Aftab, who was visiting the zoo with his children.

CDA Administration Member Amir Ali Ahmed was unavailable for comment despite an earlier assurance that he would provide an official version. CDA Spokesperson Asim Khichi was unavailable for comment due to the weekend.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 19^th, 2014.