The Forest Department will consider setting up a biological park, preferably on the forest land at Anchatageri village, said Minister for Forests and Environment B. Ramanath Rai.
He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for ‘Aranya Bhavan’, being constructed at the forest department office premises in Dharwad at an estimate cost of ₹8 crore, on Friday.
“Establishing a zoo in either Dharwad or Hubballi will not be possible because of the conditions of the Zoo Authority of India,” he said.
Hence, the government will consider setting up a biological park at Dharwad.
The forest land near Anchatageri will be an ideal place for the park, he added.
Mr. Rai announced this in response to a plea by the Minister in-charge of the district Vinay Kulkarni for setting up a zoo here.
Referring to incidents of wild animals straying into human habitats, Mr. Rai said the wild animals were entering the human habitat in search of water.
Most of the waterbodies in forest area have dried up due to drought and there is no scope in law for removing silt from ponds and tanks in forest land.
However considering the need to provide water to the animals, the department will drill borewells in forest areas where there is acute shortage of water and solar pumps will be fitted to lift the water from borewells.
A proposal to install 100 solar pumps has been sent to the government, he said.
He said that disciplinary action against those found guilty of misappropriation of funds and irregularities in tree plantation at Hubballi will be taken based on the report of the vigilance committee which is probing into the matter.
