<img title="BMC's plan was to shift the birds from Byculla zoo to the park, and bring in exotic species from abroad" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/jul/Byculla-zoo-a.jpg" alt="BMC's plan was to shift the birds from Byculla zoo to the park, and bring in exotic species from abroad" /> BMC's plan was to shift the birds from Byculla zoo to the park, and bring in exotic species from abroad
No park for birds in Powai. That's the latest. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has scrapped the ambitious Rs 150-crore project following a land issue and fearing backlash over the appointment of a controversial consultant to prepare the project report.
In 2014, the BMC had planned a bird park near Powai lake on a 25-acre plot owned by its water department. As part of Byculla zoo's proposed extension, new birds were supposed to be brought in and those in the zoo shifted there.
<img title="The zoo has 300 birds of 31 species, including Japanese crane, military macaw and African parrot. File pic" src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/2017/jul/Byculla-zoo-b.jpg" alt="The zoo has 300 birds of 31 species, including Japanese crane, military macaw and African parrot. File pic" /> The zoo has 300 birds of 31 species, including Japanese crane, military macaw and African parrot. File pic
A senior civic official said, "For two years, land issue delayed the project. The water department owns the site finalised by the zoo authorities for the park. We had requested it to hand over the plot. First, its officials asked us to wait; later, they said one of their projects was coming up on the same plot."
"The other reason (for shelving the park project) was the whole controversy surrounding the penguin project. The man who led the company that constructed the penguin enclosures was also part of the consulting firm hired for the bird park. Afraid that would invite backlash, the civic body thought it best to scrap the project itself," he added.
Multiple issues Director of Byculla zoo, Dr Sanjay Tripathi, confirmed the development. "There were many issues with the project, mainly the land and the controversial background of the contractor appointed as project management consultant. Hence, this move," he said.
According to sources, the controversial project management consultant was the tainted firm Universal Organics headed by Tanmay Rai. In the past, it was accused of cheating the civic body by labelling China-made anaesthesia machines as Britain- manufactured equipment. The BMC had conducted an inquiry and found irregularities in the deal. Also, Rai was the same person who was associated with the Highway Construction Company, which made the penguin enclosures in Byculla zoo. As per the civic body's proposal, the site was to be developed as an eco-tourism spot and follow the Jurong bird park model in Singapore. The consultant was to get necessary permissions from the Central Zoo Authority and decide on the exotic bird species that could be brought in from other countries.
Currently, the zoo has about 300 birds of 31 species, including the Japanese crane, military macaw and African parrot. Meanwhile, another proposed extension of Byculla zoo, in Aarey Milk Colony, is gathering dust with the state government.
No progress "It's been almost a year, but there has been no progress in getting a memorandum of understanding inked between the BMC and state. Because the land in Aarey colony is with the state government, the BMC can't do any planning without getting the ownership of the plot," said a civic official.

The ambitious Rs 150-crore Powai bird park project has become stillborn as water department refuses to hand over land; contractor behind penguin enclosure was the final nail

Mumbai: Lack of land and tainted contractor kill Powai bird park

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Mumbai: Lack of land and tainted contractor kill Powai bird park

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