The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently released a tender for INR 15 crore for the upkeep of the seven penguins at Mumbai's Byculla Zoo. This will be applicable for the next three years (36 months). As per reports, the civic body has already spent INR 10 crore for the same, and the recent decision to spend more on the same has garnered criticism from party leaders.
Sharing is thought, Congress leader Ravi Raja said that the current contract ends this month and the BMC has issued another tender worth INR 15.26 crore. He said that officials have decided to spend the amount on their quarantine and health management. Slamming the move, the Leader of Opposition in the BMC expressed his objection to spend the amount on the penguins. A report regarding the same was published in the PTI.
A total of eight penguins procured from South Korea's Coex Aquarium were brought to Mumbai's Byculla Zoo in 2016. Among them were three males and five females. However, one of the penguins died later which also raised severe criticism for the government. Officials said that Minister Aaditya Thakeray's was personally interested in the project, and the move also attracted many Mumbaikars to the zoo.
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Despite the government spending for the necessary facilities like air handling unit, pool, cooling systems etc., animal lovers and activist expressed their displeasure stating that the penguins do not belong here and have to remain their natural habitat.
A few months back, the BMC had also planned massive phased-wise modernisation programme, where the authorities, had taken a decision to 'modernise' Mumbai Zoo with giraffes, zebras and jaguars. As per reports, they were expected to be kept at 10-acre land adjacent to the zoo. Request for proposal were invited for this part of the project. In the budget planned for 2021-22, the civic body has allocated over INR 49 crore for zoo development, and this was one crore more than the amount spent in the previous year.
Also Read: Byculla Zoo Expansion Will Bring Animals like Wallaby, Black Jaguar, and More
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