Land acquisition for Meghalaya zoo

SHILLONG, March 25: Meghalaya Forest Minister Adolf Lu Hitler R Marak told the State Assembly on Friday that the Government would soon acquire land for a State Zoo at Mawlei Mawkhah on the Shillong-Guwahati road, about 25 kms from here, at a cost of Rs 1.71 crore, reports PTI. Replying to a zero hour notice tabled by Pynshai Manik Syiem (IND), Mark said the land would be acquired by the Government after completion of land acquisition procedures by the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi district. The directive for setting up of the Zoo came from the Zoo Authority of India asking the authorities concerned to upgrade the present State Zoo at Lady Hyderi Park in the city, he said. Moving the notice, Syiem alleged that the Government did shady deals in purchasing the land, as it rejected another plot of land which was much cheaper. He urged the Government to maintain transparency in the matter.