Patna zoo will lose 2000 trees if the plans of Airport Authority of India (AAI) are executed. AAI will send a proposal to the state government for cutting the identified trees creating problems in taking-off and landing of the aircrafts at the airport.
There are many precious and rare species of trees on the 15 acre land of the zoo and some of them which are above 25 feet height may be cut down.
The zoo has about 10,000 trees. Some of them, like patali, putranjiva, hijjal, terminaliya myriocarpa, heterophragma, kigalia pinnata, ficus and cassia javanica, are of rare varieties.
Director of Patna airport Arvind Dubey said, “Aircrafts taking off and landing at the airport face disturbances due to the thick vegetation around the airport area. The proposal for removal of trees has been pending for a long time and we want this change for the safe movement of flights. The survey is on to list the trees creating disturbances in the area.”