In its bid to protect forests, the Government has taken a conscious decision to establish Gorewada International Zoo and Bio park on the forestland at Gorewada, Nagpur. Expressing India’s continued commitment towards protecting forests and wildlife, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar stated, The zoo will have attractions like bio park, Indian safari, african safari, night safari, research, education and training, facilities for tourists, etc.

The Government of Maharashtra has accorded permission for establishing the international zoo, through Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM Ltd.), Nagpur. Amongst other decisions, formation of Special Purpose Vehicle of FDCM Ltd and a joint venture company of private investors under Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode of financing with government stake at 51% were also approved. The Government has agreed to provide Viability Gap Funding (VGF) of Rs 200 crore.

The task of protection of forests and wildlife at the Gorewada forests and wildlife habitat development have been assigned to FDCM Ltd., for which State Forest Department is providing grants and manpower at the disposal of FDCM Ltd.

Also read: We?ll visit 77,000 violators homes to recover over Rs 3.5 cr pending fine: Nagpur traffic DCP Chinmay Pandit

The task of construction of Indian safari and ancillary activities, Water Reservoir and Gorewada Reserve has been given to FDCM Ltd. with Government grants.

Taking to twitter, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Javadekar made this announcement and wrote, “Happy to announce the approval of the new Gorewada International Zoo in Nagpur Maharashtra, ambitious project Maharashtra Government.

Happy to announce the approval of the new Gorewada International Zoo in Nagpur, #Maharashtra , ambitious project of Maharashtra Government. @Dev_Fadnavis @BJP4Maharashtra @PIB_India @PIBHindi

? Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) August 29, 2019

According to Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCML), the Government has already issued its Government Resolution, for establishing the zoo and rescue centre at Gorewada village on 1914 hectares of Forest Land through FDCML.

Visited the excavation site in Gorewada zoo in Nagpur to see the 1500 BC to 200 AD old stone circles, pre-historic burial sites.
Students, DNA scientists & researchers are working hard to preserve this site! pic.twitter.com/UzKm7trsS3

? Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) February 2, 2019