Maharashtra cabinet okays Rs 80.4 crore for leopard safari in Junnar

PUNE: The state cabinet on Monday approved a leopard safari project at Ambe Gavhan village in Junnar, for which the government has approved Rs 80.43 crore.

Forest officials said that the work will start once they receive permission from Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The state government in a statement said that a tourism circuit will also be developed in Junnar.

The forest department had prepared a detailed project report and a budget estimate for the leopard safari in June last year.

“There is around 58,585 hectares of forest land in Junnar, and the population of leopards is also more, hence citizens and local representatives had made this demand. An approval will be taken from CZA for detailed project report. A fund of Rs 80.43 crore has been approved,” the statement said.

According to the forest officials, a total of 50 hectares of land will be used for the project, of which 30 hectares will be exclusively for safari, while 20 hectares will be used for other facilities like veterinary services and ticketing.

“A total of 16 leopards will be inside the fencing area, including eight in day shelters and eight in night shelters. The safari will remain open for eight months, except during the monsoon,” a senior forest department official said.

The official said that it will take about a year to complete the work once approval is received from CZA and the facility is likely to be opened for public in 2025.

The funds will be utilised to make roads, caves, safety walls, and entry gates for the safari.

According to officials, there are around 400 leopards in Junnar forest division.

The project was first approved at Junnar during the BJP-Shiv Sena govt but after the Maha Vikas Aghadi govt came to power,

Ajit Pawar instructed officials to shift it to Baramati. However, after the BJP came to power once again, the government announced that the project would be set up at Junnar and a provision for funds would also be made for the same in the budget. Leopard attacks have increased significantly in the last five years in Junnar division, which spreads over four tehsils — Junnar, Ambegaon, Shirur, and Khed.