Move to sell State zoo underway: Chiriakhana Suraksha Mancha

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Chiriakhana Suraksha Mancha (CSM) has alleged that the Central government has already listed a number of zoos of the country for privatization, the State Zoo-cum-Botanical Garden, Guwahati is also in the list.

Addressing the media here on Saturday, CSM general secretary Rajkumar Baishya said, "The process for privatization of zoos of the country has been set in motion, and the zoo at Guwahati is also in the list. We won't let the privatization of Amazon-like zoo located in Guwahati.

"With a view to selling the zoo in Guwahati to a private party, its charge was given to DFO Tejas Mariswamy on May 5, 2017. After Mariswamy taking charge of the State zoo, the preparations for its selling set in motions. Since then many aspects of the zoo have been destructed so as to make it fit for selling. During his past three-year period over 1,200 animals died. He has allegations of reducing the quantum of food for the animals. A number of deer have been lost.

"We did bring a number of allegations against the DFO, but to no avail. The area of the State zoo is 175 hectares. We'll have to protect this land. If the government can't run the Zoo it has to hand it over to the public. We'll run it smoothly. To fight the move to privatize the State Zoo we're going to stage a serial agitation from October 19, 2020."

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