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World Bank to aid Vizag zoo
The World Bank (WB) has agreed to sanction $ 6 million towards the reconstruction of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, which suffered damage to the tune of ` 2.5 crore during Hudhud cyclone.
It will get $ 6 million to take up repairs to the damage caused during Hudhud cyclone
Visakhapatnam: The World Bank (WB) has agreed to sanction $ 6 million towards the reconstruction of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, which suffered damage to the tune of ` 2.5 crore during Hudhud cyclone.
This is for the first time the World Bank is funding a zoo in South Asia, World Bank official Neha Vyas told reporters at zoo here on Tuesday. She, along with other WB officials, inspected the requirements of the zoo to finalise on funding.
“The fund for purpose would start flowing in a couple of days. The zoo would get US $ 6 million under Andhra Pradesh Disaster Recovery Project (APDRP),” said additional principal chief conservator of forests Visakhapatnam circle Prateep Kumar.
He said Rs 36 crore would be spent on zoo renovation, Rs 13 crore for eco tourism project at Kambalakonda, and Rs 75 crore for development of palm forest and field renovations.A master plan is being drawn by zoo authorities for the purpose, and the process of inviting expression of interest (EoI) has already begun. The last date for receiving the EoIs ends on Wednesday, he added.
The $ 20 million fund would also go towards ‘Restoration of environmental services and facilities and livelihood support in the four coastal districts of the State—Visakhapatnam, Vizianagram, Srikakulam and East Godavari’, one of the seven components of the APDRP project.
The eye of the cyclone Hudhud had passed right over the zoo, damaging the fabric and structures of vegetation and property severely. The compound wall, bird aviaries, tiger enclosures, gates, visitor’s facilities, animal rescue centre, CC TV, and other basic amenities had also suffered damage. About 40 per cent of trees in the park area were uprooted in the cyclone, Prateep Kumar said.
The major chunk of the fund, $12 million of the total $ 20 million would go for the livelihood support project that includes raising shelter-belt plantations, Palmyrah, Casuarina Plantation and nurseries. The objective is to restore the lost shelter-belt plantations along the coast which will in turn support the livelihood of people, he added.
