The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is planning to outsource maintenance of the Bahinabai Choudhary zoo to a private player at a cost of Rs20 lakh per year, and the standing committee recently gave its clearance for the proposal.
According to sources, the PCMC will offer a hike of 10% per year for five years in the amount to be paid to the private party.
According to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the posts of curator, veterinarian, biologist and compounder need to be filled up, but the PCMC plans to outsource the work instead. According to the rules, these posts need to be filled up along with that of the director.
The zoo was set up in 1990 at Sambhajinagar over 9.1 acres. The civic body spends Rs7 lakh annually on the maintenance of the zoo. But this amount will now go up to Rs20 lakh, apart from the hike of 10% per year.
