Opposition flays Sena over penguins

The Shiv Sena, which controls the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation along with the BJP, has come in for severe criticism following death of Dory, a female Humbolt penguin a Byculla zoo.

Despite opposition from other parties, the Shiv Sena got the BMC to spend about Rs 10 crore to buy the penguins from South Korea.

Most political parties had questioned the move and expressed doubts about whether the animals could survive in the city’s zoo, which has been in a dire state for years.

However, the BMC bowed to the Shiv Sena and bough the eight penguins anyway, as it was a pet project of Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya.

The process of bringing in the penguins, including building the quarantine area, was undertaken hurriedly as the Shiv Sena and BJP wanted to showcase the penguins before the next year’s BMC polls.

BJP leaders also said that there was a lot of interference in the project. Manoj Kotak, group leader of the BJP in the BMC, said, “There has been too much interference in procuring and maintaining these penguins, which has resulted in this mishap. It is very unfortunate.”

MNS group leader Sandeep Deshpande, said, “The remaining penguins should be sent back immediately.”

Local legislator Waris Pathan of the All India Majlis E Ittehadul Muslimeen demanded an inquiry into penguin’s death.

Responding to the criticism, especially from MNS, Uddhav Thackeray said, “We will worry about the penguins, they should worry about saving their party.”

A day after one of the eight new Humboldt penguins died at Byculla Zoo, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to appoint a new contractor to revamp the zoo.

Unhappy with the poor performance of the present contractor, hired to revamp the zoo at a cost of Rs 150 crore, the BMC will now issue fresh tenders.

The present contractor will only build the penguin enclosure, which comprises 15-20% of the revamp plan.

In addition, the BMC is likely to appoint a third-party consultant to oversee the work done by the contractor.

“The work of the present contractor is abysmal. We are unhappy with the design and construction of the enclosure. The present contract will be terminated and a new contractor