Minutes of the 10th meeting of the Governing Body of the West Bengal Zoo Authority held on January 28, 2015.
10th meeting of the Governing Body of the West Bengal Zoo Authority was held on 28th January, 2015 in the Conference Room, 13th floor, NABANNA, Howrah. The meeting was chaired by Sri Sanjoy Mitra, IAS, Chief Secretary, West Bengal and Chairman, West Bengal Zoo Authority. The meeting was also attended by the following Members of the Authority.
1. Sri Chandan Sinha, IAS, Principal Secretary, Dept. of Forests, Govt. of WB & Vice Chairman, WBZA.
2. Sri Azam Zaidi, IFS, PCCF, General, WB & Member, WBZA.
3. Sri Ujjwal Kumar Bhattacharya, IFS, PCCF, WL & CWLW, WB & Member, WBZA.
4. Sri Nantu Paul, Chairman, Siliguri Municipal Corp.& Member, WBZA.
5. SK. Johor Ali, represented on behalf of Sri Mihir Chakraborty, President, All Backward Class Relief & Development Mission & Member, WBZA
6. Dr. Subhas Bose, Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, WB & Member, WBZA.
7. Dr. K.L. Ghosh, IFS, Director, Zoological Garden, Alipore (Kolkata) & Member, WBZA.
8. Sri Piar Chand, IFS, Director, PN Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling & Member, WBZA.
9. Dr. B. R. Sharma, IFS, Member Secretary, WBZA.
Sri H. K. Dwibedi, IAS, Principal Secretary, Dept. of Finance, Govt. of West
Bengal & Member, WBZA; Sri B.S. Bonal, IFS, Member Secretary, Central Zoo
Authority, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Govt. of India &
Member, WBZA and Sri Sankar Dhar, People for Animals, Alipurduar &
Member, WBZA could not attend the meeting due to pre-occupation and granted
leave of absence.
The Chairman, West Bengal Zoo Authority welcomed all the Members present and asked the Member Secretary, West Bengal Zoo Authority to initiate the proceeding as per the proposed agenda.
Agenda 1: Approval of the minutes of the 9th meeting of the Governing Body of the WBZA held on 11th July, 2014.
Minutes of 9th meeting of the Governing Body of the West Bengal Zoo Authority held on July 11, 2014 were confirmed after a brief discussion.
Agenda 2: Action Taken Report (ATR) on the decisions taken in the 9th meeting of the Governing Body of the West Bengal Zoo Authority held on 11, July 2014.
Action Taken Report (ATR) on the decisions taken by the Governing Body of WBZA in its 9th meeting held on July 11, 2014 along with the status of different developmental works
taken up or ongoing (in the last 3 years of establishment of the WBZA) was read and noted by the Members.
Agenda 3 : Status Report on the development of the North Bengal Wild Animals Park, Siliguri.
The Members noted and appreciated the status report on the development of the North Bengal Wild Animals Park (NBWAP), Siliguri. It was decided to complete the work on tiger safari and mixed herbivore safari within 15.12.2015 and open same to the public.
Agenda 4 : Status Report on the development of the Sunderban Wild Animals Park (SWAP), Jharkhali.
The Members noted and appreciated the status report on the development of the Sundarban Wild Animals Park (SWAP), Jharkhali.
Agenda 5: Approval of the Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the Zoological Garden, Alipore for the year 2013-14.
Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the Zoological Garden, Alipore (Kolkata) for the year 2013-14 was approved after brief discussions.
Agenda 6 : Approval of the Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling for the year 2013-14.
The decision on the approval of the Annual Report and Audited Accounts of the PNHZP, Darjeeling for the year 2013-14 was deferred for the time being.
Agenda 7 : Approval of the Annual Report and consolidated Audited Accounts of the West Bengal Zoo Authority and all the Zoos under its control for the year 2013-14.
The decision on the approval of the Annual Report and consolidated Audited Accounts of the WBZA and all the Zoos under its control for the year for the year 2013-14 was deferred for the time being.
Agenda 8 : Creation of West Bengal Zoo Authority Corpus Fund.
After detailed discussions it was decided to create two independent funds to be known as 'West Bengal Zoo Authority Staff Welfare Fund' and 'West Bengal Zoo Authority Corpus Fund'. The West Bengal Zoo Authority Staff Welfare Fund shall mainly be dealing with the gratuity, leave salary and other staff welfare activities related to the staff of the WBZA,
whereas, the West Bengal Zoo Authority Corpus fund shall be made of other funds available with the West Bengal Zoo Authority and shall be utilized in case of natural calamities and/or other emergent situations with due permission of the Governing Body. All the related staff welfare funds and other funds kept in different zoos under control of the West Bengal Zoo Authority shall be transferred to the above Funds and shall be managed accordingly.
Agenda 9 : Approval of the Recruitment Rules for the different categories of posts in WBZA and Zoos under its control.
The proposed Recruitment Rules for the different category of post in WBZA and Zoos under its control as recommended by the Technical Committee of the WBZA were approved after brief discussion.
Agenda 10 : Approval of proposed additional developmental works in different zoos.
The proposed additional developmental works (as enclosed) except related to PNHZP, Darjeeling was approved after brief discussions. The decision on the proposed works related to the PNHZP, Darjeeling was deferred for the time being.
Agenda 11 : Approval of different research projects in Zoos under the control of
West Bengal Zoo Authority.
The research proposals as detailed below were approved for taking necessary action:
Sl.No. / Description / Amount (Rs.)i) / Study on discontinuation of visit of migratory birds in the lake in Zoological Garden, Alipore / 9,51,000.00
ii) / Analysis of treatment provided & mortality of animals in zoos under WBZA in the last 10 years / 5,50,000.00
iii) / Study of soil micro-flora and micro-fauna of the animal enclosures in Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling, Dowhill and Topkeydara / 1,84,000.00
iv) / Study on Population and Behavioural Ecology of Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) in Singhalila National Park and Neora Valley National Park, West Bengal with special reference to conservation / 7,24,200.00
v) / Rechecking of the genetic make up of the captive stock of Red panda in Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling by Aranyak, Gauhati / 2,94,125.00
Agenda 12 :Approval of training programme for Zoo Keepers.
The proposed training schedule for the Zoo Keepers i.e., in Zoological Garden, Alipore for zoos in South Bengal in the month of February 2015 and in PNHZP, Darjeeling in the month of March 2015 for zoos in North Bengal was approved.
Agenda 13 : Approval of terms and conditions and rates for the Zoo Animals Adoption Scheme, Friends of Zoos Scheme and Zoo Volunteers Scheme.
The proposed terms and conditions along with rates for the Zoo Animals Adoption Scheme, Friends of Zoos Scheme and Zoo Volunteers Scheme were approved by the Governing Body. The Member Secretary, WBZA was asked to be in touch with Sri Nantu Pal, Member, WBZA for their implementation.
Agenda 14 : Fixing and streamlining of the gate entry rates and timing in different Zoo.
The proposed timing of sale of tickets i.e., from 9 AM to 4.30 PM and zoo timings from 9 AM to 5.00 PM on all working days were approved. It was decided not to make any changes in the entry ticket rates, etc. in the different zoos under control of the WBZA for the time being.
Agenda 15 : Reconstitution of Technical Committee and revision of terms of reference.
The proposal of reconstitution of Technical Committee and revision of its terms and conditions (as given below) was approved after brief discussions. The name of the Zoo Expert to be included as member of the Technical Committee shall be taken up separately.
1 / PCCF, WL & CWLW, WB / Chairman2 / Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, WB / Member
3 / Director, ZGA, Kolkata / Member
4 / Director, PNHZP, Darjeeling / Member
5 / Zoo Expert / Member
6 / Member Secretary, WBZA / Convener
Terms of Reference
1. To provide technical assistance to zoos under control of WBZA for their
proper and scientific development/management.
2. To make recommendation to the Governing Body, WBZA regarding
Annual Plan of operation and other developmental activities in various zoos
and other organizations.
3. To approve exchange of animals between zoos under control of WBZA and
with other Zoos which are not part of Schedule I and part II of Schedule II of
the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
4. To make recommendations to the Central Zoo Authority regarding
exchange of animals between zoos under WBZA and with other zoos which
are part of Schedule I and Part II of Schedule II of the Wildlife (Protection)
Act, 1972.
5. To approve proposals for arranging training programmes, workshop and
meetings in zoos under WBZA on various expects of zoo management.
6. To approve research proposals on issue related with conservation/zoos for
funding from the WBZA and or other agencies/organizations.
7. Any other functions that may be assigned by the West Bengal Zoo
Authority.
Agenda 16 : Incorporation of the Bengal Natural History Museum in the West Bengal Zoo Authority Society.
The proposal of incorporation of the Bengal Natural History Museum (BNHM) in the WBZA Society was approved and it was decided to approach the GoWB for the notification of this effect and continuance of enhanced financial assistance to the WBZA Society for its development and maintenance.
Agenda 17 : Approval of logo of the West Bengal Zoo Authority.
It was decided to forward the proposed WBZA logo i.e. lineout logo (water bird on waves depicting the line up map of West Bengal and Bay of Bengal) with the recommendation to the office of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, West Bengal for approval.
Agenda 18 : Approval of renaming of Jhargram Zoo, Jhargram as South West Bengal Zoological Park/Paschimanchal Zoological Park, Jhargram and Ramnabagan Zoo, Burdwan as Burdwan Zoological Park, Burdwan.
The Governing Body agreed to the proposed and decided to forward the renaming of
Jhargram Zoo, Jhargram as South West Bengal Zoological Park/Paschimanchal Zoological
Park, Jhargram and Ramnabagan Zoo, Burdwan as Burdwan Zoological Park, Burdwan with recommendation to the office of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, West Bengal for final decision.
Agenda 19 : Rectification of the resolution of the 9th Governing Body Meeting (Agenda Item 14).
The Governing Body approved the rectification of the resolution of the 9th Governing Body Meeting (Agenda 14) to authorise Member Secretary, WBZA in place of Director, Zoological Garden, Alipore, to sell out non-SGL security and pay the amount at per face value to the Board of Trustee, CZGEPF.
Agenda 20: Approval of the proposed appointments in die-in-harness in Zoos at Alipore and Kolkata.
The Governing Body approved the proposal of appointment of Ms. Punam Thapa and Sri Biswajit Parui in the post of Group 'D' category on compassionate ground in die-in-harness in Zoological Garden, Alipore, Kolkata.
Agenda 21: Relocation of Nature Park, Taratala (Kolkata), as Deer Park, New Town near Eco-Park.
The Governing Body approved the proposal of relocation of Nature Park, Taratala (Kolkata) as Deer Park, New Town with financial assistance from HIDCO, West Bengal for its creation, relocation and maintenance. The WBZA shall operate the Zoo on completion through the concerned Divisional Forest Officer as Ex-officio Director with financial assistance from HIDCO, West Bengal.
Supplementary Agenda 1: Approval for additional fund for PNHZP
The decision on approval of additional fund for PNHZP, Darjeeling was deferred for the time being.
Supplementary Agenda 2: Proper Health Care Facility for captive wild animals in small zoos
The Chairman, WBZA asked Member Secretary, WBZA, to search the possibility of engaging retired Veterinarians for major zoos and enhance the honorarium to the visiting
Veterinarians from the Department of ARD, GoWB to the minor zoos.
Meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chair.
Sd/-
Member Secretary,
West Bengal Zoo Authority
Sd/-
Principal Secretary,
Govt. of West Bengal, Deptt. of Forests
& Vice chairman, WBZA
Sd/-
Chief Secretary, West Bengal &
Chairman, WBZA.