BENGALURU: The Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) has approved a proposal to create the largest aquarium of south India in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP). The file now awaits clearance from Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also in charge of the forest, environment and ecology ministry.
The BBP has proposed that the Rs 144.4 crore aquarium should be set up under the Design Build Finance Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. The project will be executed in two years, from the time of commissioning.
“Tenders can be called after the project gets the government approval. At present, the file needs the cabinet’s and chief minister’s approval. After four years of planning and beating red-tapism, the proposal was finalised and got the approval of the governing council at a meeting held on Saturday, and since then, the file is awaiting final clearance. Now it is delayed again,” said a forest department officer.
Even though a sketch has been prepared, the BBP management has kept the designing and creation of the aquarium open for the bidders. It has been conceptualised on the lines of Aquatic Gallery at Science City in Ahmedabad.
The aquarium is planned to be created next to the butterfly park on a 7.5 acre land, of which the total built area is planned to be 65,000sqft. This will include 43,050 sqft of front-of-house facilities, 18,450 sqft of back-of-house facilities and 3,500 sqft of administration section.
The front part will include the aquarium entry hall, exhibition halls, main tank, circulation area, rest room and other amenities. “The plan is to house marine and fresh water fish species in a large aquarium complex, with a state of the art filtration system and a zero wastage model,” the officer said.
The aim of the aquatic centre is education and awareness. Popular, endemic and native species of each region of Karnataka and India will be showcased in the aquarium. “The focus is to cover as many species as possible including the Mahaseer, also called as the Tiger of Water, which is now facing existential threat in the Cauvery river,” an officer said.
