Jungle safari to come up in Chandrapur forest

Chandrapur: The state government has entered into an agreement with Tata Trusts to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for jungle safari proposed in Padmapur forest on the border of Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve. The new jungle safari will ensure assured sighting of tigers and other animals to the visitor and is aimed at reducing the tourist pressure on Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). The trusts has roped in the services of a Singapore-based global zoo design and consultancy firm, Bernard Harrison and Friends Ltd, to make the DPR for the project. TOI in its report published on April 10, 2018 said the global expert was roped in by Tata Trust, Mumbai, to prepare the DPR for the safari.Forest secretary Vikas Kharge and representatives of Tata Trusts on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. The minister directed the officials to prepare a proposal for building a jungle safari and seek its clearance under forest conservation Act -1980 form the central government. He also directed the officials to prepare the estimates and obtain technical and administrative sanction for the works of safari. He also told the officers to send a proposal and project profile to Central Zoo Authority seeking its sanction for the project.The move is a part of Sudhir Mungantiwar’s announcement made in 2015 to build leopard safaris in Chandrapur, Amrawati, Pune and Borivali. An expert committee of Maharashtra Zoo Authority and representatives of Tata Trusts have so far paid visit to the safari site. The jungle safari, which will comprise of large enclosures of herbivores and carnivores, would come up in over 100 hectares of forest. A modern rescue and treatment centre will also be the part of the safari project, an officer said.Site shiftedOfficial sources in TATR, looking after the safari project, said that primary plans were to build the jungle safari in compartment number 184 of the buffer zone near Padmapur. However, the sight later was shifted to adjacent compartment number 883 of the Chandrapur forest division. The new site is just outside the buffer zone.