Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF & CC) passed orders to Chandigarh administration to stop the process of walk-through aviary situated inside Nagar Van City forest, Chandigarh. This is after the much hue and cry raised by city-based environmentalists and socialists. MOEF & CC asked in its letter to discontinue the work on the project and also called it impugned zoo.
Chandigarh Forest and Wildlife Department initiated the Two Bird Aviaries project inside the City Forest near Sukhna Lake of Chandigarh. Last month, a group of environmentalists of My Tree Foundation raised irregularities in this issue during the press conference on 28 July. After which RTI Activist and Second Innings Association President R.K. Garg addressed the issue to the ministry.
MOEF&CC stated in its order vide letter no.F.NO.8-125/2021/WL dated 24 August, It has been brought into the notice of Ministry that UT administration has purchased several exotic birds and is in process of setting up and inaugurating a zoo in Chandigarh. The purchase proposed setting up and inauguration of the zoo has not been done as per laid procedures. The undersigned directs you to discontinue the process till such time, all necessary approvals are granted by the competent authority and also refrain from formal opening of the impugned zoo.”
While talking to The Daily Guardian, Garg stated, “In view of the serious irregularities, due to which the project has been stopped that surfaced in the making of Bird Aviaries and other audit objections on the working of Forest Department, the undersigned demands that all contracts entered in the four years and awarded by Forest Department be made public so that all irregular practices are exposed fully.”