Gujarat HC asks govt to follow CZA conditions while setting up Safari

Ahmedabad

The Gujarat High Court today directed the state Government to fulfil all the conditions laid down by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) while setting up a Safari Park near the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.

With this directive, the bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice Anant Dave disposed of a PIL seeking ban on the Safari Park project claiming it will hinder the movement of lions.

Biren Pandya, the petitioner, had contended that the Park, to be set up over 450 hectares of land near Ambaradi village in Amreli district, will have all kinds of animals except lions. The lions, forced out of the area, would stray into nearby villages in search of food and may attack humans.

Also, fencing for Safari Park will block the corridors used by lions in that part of forest, Pandya said.

The HC today noted that CZA had given a conditional permission to the government in 2008 for the Safari Park, and the government must adhere to all the conditions.

PTI