Bahinabai Chaudhary Zoological Museum in Chinchwad Gets New Consultant 

Plans are being made to reconstruct the Bahinabai Chaudhary Zoological Museum in Chinchwad, following animal-friendly guidelines. Nilam Kumar Khaire has been appointed as a consultant to ensure that the project creates a suitable environment for the museum’s inhabitants.

The museum is located in Sambhajinagar, Chinchwad, and occupies a seven-acre site next to the Bahinabai Chaudhari Sarpodyan and Zoological Museum. “The museum was inaugurated on December 30, 1989. It underwent renovation in 2016 to improve its facilities and exhibits.”

The zoo has been closed to the public since December 25, 2017, due to ongoing expansion work. Delays occurred due to inadequate planning by consultants and contractors, as well as negligence from officials despite initial deadlines set for October 2018.

The upcoming renovations include the establishment of a modern animal hospital, an information centre, a wildlife library, and interactive activities for children to learn about wildlife. Although progress has been slow, officials assure that the museum will be completed in the coming months and open to the public.

The Pimpri Chinchwad Corporation (PCMC) has taken a significant step towards the betterment of Nisargakavi Bahinabai Zoo by appointing two consultants for a two-year term. One consultant will oversee civil works to ensure they are animal-friendly, while the other, an animal expert, will assist in maintaining and introducing new animals.

PCMC Deputy Commissioner, Sandeep Court, emphasized the importance of the consultants’ roles, stating, “The appointed animal expert must possess a minimum of 20 years of experience in handling reptiles and avians, while the other consultant should have prior experience as a zoo advisor.”

The zoo, which currently houses 184 animals, has been closed to the public since December 2017 due to recommendations from the Central Zoo Authority of India. BJP MLA Ashwini Jagtap highlighted the urgency of the situation, attributing animal deaths to delays in completing necessary infrastructure work.

Additionally “The government has directed us to prioritize the zoo’s operations,” stated a PMC official. “Once a decision is made to hand over operations to the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (FDCM), we will proceed accordingly.”

Previously, the civic body had terminated the services of the former advisor due to structural objections, with approximately 70% of the work already completed. The remaining tasks are expected to be finished within 1.5 years, with work orders to be issued within the next 1.5 months in consultation with the newly appointed advisors, according to Manoj Sethia, Joint Secretary Engineer of PCMC.