THE recent decision of the state government of Uttar Pradesh (UP) to shift the Prince of Wales Zoological Garden(locally known as Lucknow zoo) fromto Southern countries its present location to the Dubbaga forest area, Moosabagh, Hardin road,has triggered off a controversy. The proposal, announced at a public meeting by the chief minister (cm) of up,Mayawati, includes the building of anew secretarial complex at the same spot.
The zoo has been in existence since1921 and encloses a vast green beltspread over a large range. As the zoo islocated in the heart of the city whereair pollution is the highest, this greencover serves as an absorber of the cock-tail of smoke emitted by numerousvehicles. Therefore, it is feared thatif any construction is undertaken inthis area, the trees will be hacked andthe greens will vanish. The shiftingof the zoo and the construction of anew zoo complex at the proposed sitein Moosabagh would cost the publicexchequer about Rs 25 cone. This shifting sounds more ridiculous and surprising at a time when already the renovation work of the present zoo is in progress and expenditure to the tune ofabout Rs 30 lakh has been incurred inthe modification process of the existingstructure.
With space constraints troublingthe zoo, a sizeable number of peoplestrongly feel that the shifting of the zooto the more spacious Moosabagh areawill do more benefit than harm. SaidMahendra Singh, the zoo director, "ifthe zoo is located on the city's outskirts,then only, genuine wildlife lovers will gothere and those more interested in funand frolic will not go that distance. Thiswill also make the maintenance task easier" Singh, however, feels that shifting should not be dope at the cost of the present green belt.
Meanwhile, Aarge number of children, city veterans, professionals, youth and others recently collected at the zoogate and formed a human chain outsidethe zoo to protest against the Mayawatigovernment's intentions to shift thezoo. The World Wide Fund for Naturehas appealed the CM to consider theenvironmental repercussions of theproposal and also to obtain permissionfrom the Central Zoo Authority beforeshifting the zoo.