Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
The Smart City initiative has taken a major step towards the Safari Park in Mitmita by planning the plantation of 70,000 trees. As the park nears completion, afforestation efforts will be supported through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds.
Siddharth Garden Zoo, a major tourist attraction, has long struggled with space constraints for animals. The Central Zoo Authority had mandated the relocation of the animal museum, but due to financial limitations, the municipal corporation relied on Smart City funds to develop the 100-acre Safari Park.
Currently, large portions of the park remain barren. To address this, tree-planting preparations will begin in April, with plantation scheduled for the monsoon season. Once completed, the greenery will create a more suitable environment for wildlife. Municipal Commissioner G. Sreekant had sought CSR support for afforestation, and sources confirm that one company has pledged to plant 25,000 trees and maintain them for five years.
\IAnimal relocation on hold for 3 years\I
Despite the completion of the zoo’s relocation, transferring animals to the Safari Park will not be possible until the newly planted trees mature a process expected to take at least three years.