Meghalaya Zoo Under Scanner

The recent report of the office of the Comptroller and  Auditor General of India has brought to light its findings of the huge investment that has lain idle for many years due to the complacency of the Forest and Environment Department of the Government of Meghalaya.

The Government had sanctioned Rs. 2.97 crore for the acquisition of land for a Botanical Garden cum Bio diversity centre and also Rs. 1.89 crore for the acquisition of land for a State Zoo in March 2000, March 2001 and February 2002. Accordingly, two plots of land at Lum Sohpetbneng and Umtrew in Ri – Bhoi District were acquired in April 2001 and August 2002 by the Forest and Environment Department at the cost of Rs. 2.97 crore and Rs. 1.85 crore for the Botanical Garden and State Zoo respectively.

However, after the auditors scrutinized the records of the Divisional Officer (DFO) Wildlife Division and Silviculture Division, it was found that this initial investment has lain idle as the department has not taken any additional steps towards implementation of these two projects after the acquisition of the land even though funds for doing so were readily available.

While the proposal for the zoo was sent to the Central Zoo Authority for approval, the project proposal for the Botanical Garden was never submitted.  A provision of Rs. 40 Lakh was made in the budget for the years 2002 – 2007 for setting up a State Botanical Garden for the conservation of Bio – genetic diversity but no expenditure was incurred there against. This clearly shows the lackadaisical attitude of the department and has resulted in idle investment of R. 4.82 crore over a period of four to five years.

E. P. Desk