Kozhikode, Kerala: The Kozhikode Biological Park, also known as the Tiger Safari Park, is taking shape at the Perambra Estate of the Muthukad Plantation Corporation in Chakkittapara Panchayat in Kozhikode district.
Jain and Associates, a consultancy firm from Delhi, has been appointed to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the park. The contract, valued at Rs 64 lakh, has been awarded, and the DPR, along with the management plan, is expected to be submitted within the next six months.
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The proposal to appoint a consultancy with expertise in this field to prepare the DPR was submitted by the project's Special Officer, Assistant Conservator of Forests K K Sunilkumar, to the Forest Department Chief.
The proposed biological park will span 125 hectares, with around 50 hectares earmarked for construction. The project aims to offer a range of facilities, including a ticket counter, parking space, an information centre, an office building, employee accommodations, an inspection bungalow, an amusement park, and a snack bar. The second phase will focus on the tiger safari area, which will include a hospital and other necessary facilities.
Initially named the Muthukad Tiger Safari Park, the project was renamed the Kozhikode Biological Park in June after reviewing the technical aspects of the permit. The state government had first issued an order to establish the park in November of the previous year.
Environmental and legal approvals pending
Before the Kozhikode Biological Park project can proceed, several environmental and legal approvals are required. The Central Zoo Authority's permission can only be granted once the management plan is submitted. The area identified for the safari park is located within the Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary, which was established in 2009.
The draft master plan also highlights two trails in the area used by elephants and other wildlife to reach the Peruvannamuzhi Dam reservoir for water. The project must ensure that wildlife corridors are not disrupted, as this could lead to increased human-wildlife conflict in surrounding areas like Kakkayam, Muthukad, and Payyanikotta.
The project also requires clearance from the National Wildlife Board, the National Tiger Conservation Authority, and the Union Ministry of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change. These permissions can only be sought once the DPR is finalised and submitted. Once approved, the project will proceed with applying for the necessary permits, which will take into account the guidelines from the Supreme Court's interim order in March.
Published: 30 Nov 2024, 09:23 am IST
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