SRINAGAR:  The StateAdministrative Council (SAC) which met here under the chairmanship of Governor,Satya Pal Malik revived the Jumbo Zoo at Khanpur Nagrota which was held up forlack of funds.For this purpose, an area of 163.42 hectare of land has beentransferred to Wildlife Department. The location is just 8 kilometers fromJammu City on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and on way to Shri MataVaishno Devi Shrine. The project is estimated to cost an amount of Rs 62.41 Crto be completed by December, 2020. The work on the project was earlierinitiated by the Wildlife Department through CAMPA funding and some amount wasutilized. However, the work was stopped due to change in the guidelines ofCAMPA funding which restricted the Government from allocating any furtherfunds. The Government has now revisited and approved the project with balanceamount of 49.17 Cr to be provided through Jammu and Kashmir InfrastructureDevelopment Finance Corporation(JKIDFC).

The Zoo is expected to serve as an added tourist attractionespecially for tourists coming to visit Jammu to pay obeisance at the Shri MataVaishno Devi Shrine, Katra.  The revenueearnings from the project shall flow to the Government.

The Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology will ropein a person, with expertise in Zoo management to assist the department in theestablishment of the Jumbo Zoo.Further, the Department of Forest, Environmentand Ecology will examine the possibility of developing an area outside the Zooas a tourist hotel complex with allied facilities on the state land inconsultation with the Tourism Department for convenience of thetourists/pilgrims.