Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Choudhary, Lal Singh, today inaugurated a Children’s Park, Snake Chamber and a Turtle Pond at Manda Zoo here.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said it will further add to recreational value of the Zoo for the children. “Manda is a perfect place to visit on holidays and weekends as it is an ideal picnic spot near the city and close to the royal heritage of Jammu and Kashmir, the Hari Niwas Palace”, he asserted.The Minister, while assessing other development aspects in the zoo, directed the officers to ensure that the ambitious Manda Zoo project is executed in most efficient manner and timelines fixed for its completion are strictly adhered to.Principal Chief Conservator of Forests IFS A K Singh, Chairman Pollution Control Board IFS Ravi Kesar, Chief Wildlife Warden Suresh Chugh, CCF IFS Roshan Jagi, Dr V S Senthil Kumar RWLW, Wildlife Warden Jammu Amit Sharma and other officials of different wings of the department accompanied the Minister during the visit.
Lal Singh directed the Wild Life Department to ensure removal of bushes and other unwanted things from the interior areas and the pond of the deer park.The Minister asked the District Forest Officer, Manda to personally monitor the feed and drinking water facilities being provided to the animals in the park. He asked for renovation of irrigation channels constructed in the park for regular supply of water up to the tail end of the crocodile pond. He directed the concerned officials to maintain proper sanitation, landscaping, irrigation facilities in the park besides plantation of Shahtoot (Mulberry) and Jamun saplings in the park.“Such facilities will further raise visitor influx to the park,” he said.Later, the Minister visited the trail road within the Ramnagar wildlife Sanctuary and asked officers to ensure that specific visiting hours are fixed for the influx of public so that wildlife population is not disturbed.He stressed on creating special recreational facilities for the school children and walking trails for nature lovers, who visit the park for excursions etc but without disturbing the natural scenery and topography.