The proposed night safari in Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) which has sowed seeds of discord in the BS Yeddyurappa ministry, has raised the hackles of the Centre as well.
A day after tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy went public with his opposition to forest minister CH Vijayashankar’s decision to spike the night safari proposal, Union minister of state for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday categorically said that the Centre was also against such an idea.
Stating that he was against any safari in forest areas after 7 pm, Ramesh said on the sidelines of a lecture that several states had been trying in vain to get the central clearance for night safari. The states’ explanation that most professionals did not get time to visit safari during day time had failed to make the Centre change its stand, he added.
Ramesh said he would take up the issue with the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) officials. He doubted whether the Karnataka government had obtained the clearance from either the CZA or the Centre for the night safari.
The Karnataka high court is hearing a petition against the Bannerghatta night safari. However, Janardhana Reddy recently announced work would begin soon on the night safari.
On tiger deaths in BBP due to salmonella bacteria infection, Ramesh said that he was told that the deaths occurred because animals were fed contaminated meat. It happened as hygiene standards were not being enforced.
He referred to the death of a black cuck and a giraffe in a Delhi zoo after the animals drank contaminated water, he said a downpour and resultant fracturing of sewerage lines had caused the contamination.
Ramesh admitted that his impression that Bannerghatta was better managed had been shattered by the developments. He said a CZA team had been rushed to the BBP.
