Punjab: Covid-19 pushes Chhatbir Zoo 2 years back, hits revenue

MOHALI: Novel coronavirus has not only affected revenue generation at Chhatbir Zoo, but has also resulted in pushing the zoo back by two years in becoming self-sustainable. Where 2020 was being cited as the year in which Chhatbir Zoo would show its mettle in attaining selfsustainable quotient, the closure of the zoo has affected it largely.
The zoo has also lost its primary projects which were being cited as major attractions for visitors and would have increased footfall by manifolds. Project like construction of a dinosaur park, which was to be built at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore to Rs 5 crore, has been affected as the construction was nearing halfway, but has now come to a halt.
Another major project was exchange of exotic wild animals to be imported from Africa, for the first time in the country, has also been declined. “The chief minister gave permission in February 2019 to the wild life department to initiate the process of importing exotic wild animals like zebra, giraffe, chimpanzee and gorilla from African countries for Chhatbir Zoo to improve animal collection,” said M Sudhagar, zoo field director.
“All these projects, which were likely to be completed and initiated this year, have been stalled due to the pandemic. We would have become self-sustainable as last year we did Rs 14 crore to Rs 15 crore business, including government grants. This year, we had budget revenue of over Rs 18 crore, which would have made us self-sustainable,” said Sudhagar.
He said, “It seems that now we will have to start afresh as the lockdown period has already eaten up a major chunk of revenue savings of the zoo. We have many continuous expenses like feeding the animals and paying wages to care takers. Animals consume meat, fodder, grains, fruits and vegetables to the tune of Rs 30 lakh monthly, though the Punjab government is giving the grant, but during the lockdown, the collection made from visitors is now zero.”