BMC's Powai bird park project hits a hurdle as its water department delays NOC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's ambitious Powai bird park project is stuck in limbo. The reason: Delay in getting a no objection certificate from one of the civic departments itself, for the last four months.

The 25-acre plot in Powai was allotted by the civic body to house a big bird population.

It will be an extension of the Byculla zoo that will decongest its existing avian population comprising exotic species like the Japanese Crane, Military Macaw and the African Parrot. In December last year, the BMC had zeroed in on a consultant to design the park.

However, there has been little progress since then. Nearly four months ago, Byculla zoo authorities had sent a request to the civic water department, seeking permissions to carry out a contour survey to get exact details of the park.

The approval was sought as the land, which lies in proximity to Powai lake, comes under the jurisdiction of the water department. However, the water department had not responded to the zoo authorities' letter so far.

"We are awaiting an NOC from them so that we can start the survey immediately which will help us plan the park better. Only after the survey the work can start," an official from the zoo department said.

As per the civic body's proposal, the site will be developed as an ecotourism spot, and was to follow the Jurong bird park model in Singapore. The consultant was to get necessary permissions from the Central Zoo Authority and decide on exotic bird species that can be brought from other countries.

A senior civic official from the water department said a meeting will be first held with the zoo authorities to understand their plan of action, following which a decision would be taken over the matter. The Byculla zoo revamp project has been delayed since 10 years now.