Aurangabad, Dec 19:
The state government has given the orders to start the tourist places from December 10 across the state. Later, the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) started the preparations to start Siddharth Garden and Zoo. However, the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) has denied permission to open the zoo for public stating that the animals may be in danger due to the crowd. Hence, the tourists and residents will have to wait until the Corona crisis ends completely to watch the animals.
The AMC had closed Siddharth Garden and Zoo due to Corona Crisis since March. There are around 250 wild animals in the zoo. Tourists not only from the district but the district from Vidharbha and Khandesh are attracted to the zoo here. Every year, the school trips come to the city to watch the historic places and the students also visit the zoo here. The corporation earns a revenue of around Rs 30 lakh per month from the zoo and garden. The state government granted permission to open the tourist places in the state from December 10. The administration started preparation to open the Zoo on December 14. However, the CZA called an online meeting and directed not to open the zoo due to the threat of infection to the animals.
Zoo director, B S Naikwade said, the administration had started preparations to start the zoo. However, the CZA has issued directives not to open the zoo during an online meeting, he said.