The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Tirupati News : Tirupati zoo may suffer crisis

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 16, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati

Tirupati zoo may suffer crisis

By A. D. Rangarajan

TIRUPATI, FEB. 15. The financially-crippled Sri Venkateswara Zoological Park is likely to suffer a major blow under the animal feed head if the management accepts the lowest bid filed on Tuesday, which is clearly on the higher side compared to the previous year's figure.

Suppliers normally come from Pakala and Punganur areas of the district and this year not many took part in the tenders conducted for supply of beef. There was a commotion outside the main gate of the zoo when a bidder, said to be from Pakala, was found accosting and preventing others from filing their bids.

Abnormal rise

The zoo requires 360 kg of beef everyday to feed the animals in its enclosures, besides some aged and scrawny animals rescued from circuses and housed in its rescue centre. Beef requirement took a sudden jump from 230 kg last year to 360 kg now, as 20 lions were moved to the centre from various circuses across the country.

While last year's bid for supply of a kilogram of beef was Rs.25, the "least" amount this time is learnt to be Rs.38.50, with no valid reason being attached to the steep hike.

That a whopping rise of Rs.13.50 per kg would take up the value of the bid for a whole year several times needs no mention.

High bid

Contacted by The Hindu, a senior forest official admitted that the bid was definitely on the higher side and that the purchases committee would soon meet to sort out the issue.

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