Central Zoo Authority (CZA) member secretary B R Sharma is expected to visit the Maharajbagh zoo on Saturday to investigate the entry of
Maharashtra agriculture minister Balasaheb Thorat into the tiger cage last week. Sharma is also expected to meet state’s principal chief conservator of forests for wildlife A K Joshi.
Sharma told TOI that the report sent by Maharajbagh zoo controller had reached his office, but denied he had rejected it. "I’m expected in Nagpur on Saturday but everything will depend on the weather in Delhi, which is right now unfriendly. If weather improves I will visit Nagpur or I will come next week." The TOI on Thursday had reported that the zoo officials and police had given a clean chit to Thorat for entering into the cage of tiger on August 15.
The zoo officials have played safe by citing agriculture university rules to protect Thorat. Sharma’s visit seems to be the result of Jairam Ramesh, minister of environment and forest, taking serious note of the incident and asking the CZA to submit a report. If found guilty, Thorat faces six months jail term or fine of Rs 2000 or both. He was filmed last week stroking a tiger cub in the zoo as his armed security guards and the city Congress president Jaiprakash Gupta looked on.
According to provisions of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, only zoo personnel are authorised to enter animal enclosures. Sharma’s visit has rattled local officials who are avoiding public comment. Zoo incharge Dr S S Bawaskar refused to comment saying he was busy in a meeting. Reliable sources in CZA said zoo controller M M Damke was trying to shift responsibility on Bawaskar by saying he was not aware of CZA rules and provisions of Wildife Protection Act 1972.
A source said some staffers were likely to face transfers too. Conservationist Kundan Hate however said if zoo controller was not aware of laws, why should he hold the post? "If action against Bawaskar is taken, then Damke should also be punished because everything happened in presence of both," he said.
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