MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday defended its Rs 15 crore tender for maintenance of the penguin enclosure at Byculla zoo. The BMC claimed that after the arrival of the penguins, the BMC’s revenue from the zoo had increased drastically. The BMC claimed that the income from the zoo increased by Rs 12.26 crore from Rs 12.26 crore after the penguins were brought in 2017.
Congress had recently criticised the Shiv Sena-run Mumbai civic body for floating the Rs 15-crore tender for the upkeep of seven penguins in the zoo. “My objection is what is the need to spend so much again for the upkeep of penguins,” said leader of opposition in BMC Ravi Raja of Congress. Raja alleged the tender was issued to benefit contractors, PTI reported.
“Certain sections of the media yesterday have reported allegations made by elected representatives of some political parties regarding loss of crores of rupees to BMC on account of upkeep of penguins in Veermata Jijamata Bhosle Zoo. The total cumulative income of the zoo between April 2014 and March 2017 (3 years) was Rs. 2.10 crore. However, after the arrival of penguins in March 2017, the total cumulative income of the Zoo between April 2017 and March 2020 was Rs. 14.36 crore. Therefore it is clear that the income of the zoo increased by Rs. 12.26 crore,” Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Chahal said.