CHENNAI: Vandalur zoo authorities spent State funds towards commencement of a night safari project and construction of a nursery without specific orders from the government, documents accessed by Express have revealed.
With the State government abandoning the project, animal cages, roads and other infrastructure created for this ambitious project worth `6.4 crore have become unusable now.
In an attempt to attract more tourists, the Tamil Nadu government in 2007 had announced that night safaris would be made available at Arignar Anna Zoological Park in Vandalur, located 35 km from the city.
Apart from the core safari zone in which 42 animal cages were to be set up, food and accommodation centres, amphitheatres and souvenir shops were also planned at a total cost of `256 crore.
The State Environment and Forest Department announced that apart from State and central government money, it would need private investment to complete the project. Controversies erupted immediately as the Forest Conservation Act restricted private players from taking up development activities in the zoo, which is a reserve forest area.
Subsequently, the zoo authorities revised the fund requirement to `156.3 crore and enhanced central government share from `40 crore to `83.9 crore.
While the State sanctioned a certain amount for preliminary works as a first step towards implementation of the ambitious project, Central Zoo Authority (CZA) reportedly refused to provide financial commitment citing paucity of funds as the reason in December 2008.
CZA, the central government body which oversees zoos across the country, however released `2.79 crore for taking care of animals that were in excess of the carrying capacity of the zoo.
Accordingly, the zoo authorities again revised the cost estimate to `82 crore and requested State government officials to release appropriate funds.
“On July 2011, the project was abandoned by the State government, without recording any reasons thereof,” reads one of the documents recently reviewed by forest and finance departments.
After CZA backed out, the state finance department had reportedly instructed the zoo authorities not to utilise State funds already sanctioned towards preliminary works before CZA finalised their financial commitment.
Without heeding this, the zoo authorities floated tenders for construction of cages for tigers, elephants, circular roads and compound walls, financing these with money from the State funds, forest department sources told Express.
This included `1.7 crore for raising a nursery. “Though only `0.25 crore was earmarked for this nursery, zoo authorities diverted funds sanctioned for other components, without waiting for a specific government order,” the government source added.
Also, `2.79 crore worth of central funds released for taking care of excess animals was used for the construction of six animal enclosures within the premises.
Even nine years down the line, all these facilities except the compound walls remain unused. Admitting this, the zoo director Amit Asthana said that an audit objection was raised regarding this issue and an appropriate reply had been sent.
The zoo in its recent reply had stated that this infrastructure will be used for Advanced Institute for Wildlife Conservation within the zoo premises and would be put into operation by 2021-22.
Relevant documents accessed by this newspaper indicated that the audit team was not convinced with the reply and pointed out that the zoo authorities could not ensure that the infrastructure will be put to proper use.
When questioned about spending State funds without orders, the then zoo director KSSVP Reddy refused to comment.
Timeline
Mach 2007
TN announced that arrangements for night safaris will be made in Vandalur zoo. Total cost C256cr
April 2008
Zoo authorities revise estimate to C156cr as laws restricted private investments
December 2008
Centre backs out from project due to paucity of funds
August 2010
State again revises fund requirement to C82 crore
July 2011
TN abandons project without stating any reason for it
August 2015
Audit objection raised against C6.4cr State funds that was wasted towards creating infrastructure that is now lying unused
August 2016
Forest department replies saying infra to be used for upcoming wildlife institute.