Several drawbacks found in Pilikula Nisargadhama administration, says House panel chief

The Chairman of the Karnataka Legislature Committee on Subordinate Legislation and MLA, S.R. Srinivas, said here on Friday that lawmakers had noticed drawbacks which appeared “not rectifiable at the official level” in the management of the Pilikula Development Authority (PDA).

Speaking to presspersons after a meeting on the development of Pilikula Nisargadhama, Mr. Srinivas said the committee had noticed several drawbacks in the administration. Though 120 staff members are required, many have been hired on an outsourcing and deputation basis. The authority has no permanent government employees.

Mr. Srinivas said the committee had asked Deputy Commissioner H. V. Darshan, who is also the chairman of the authority, to submit a report on how to rectify the management. He has also been asked to submit a draft master plan for the development of Pilikula.

After receiving the report and draft master plan, the committee will meet Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to pursue the matter further for the development of Pilikula, he said.

The Dr. Shivarama Karantha Pilikula Nisargadhama, managed by the PDA, is spread over 356.25 acres.

Mr. Srinivas said the Deputy Commissioner had mentioned that the land had not yet been handed over to the authority and remained under the Revenue Department, though it falls under the Department of Science and Technology. The process of transferring the land to the Department of Science and Technology has begun and will come up before the Cabinet.

The committee will take up the matter further with the government to ensure that the land is handed over to the authority.

MLC K. Shivakumar said the administration of the authority requires an overall revamp. The committee will take up the matter with the Chief Minister.

Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner told the meeting that the management of Pilikula Biological Park, or the zoo, would be handed over to the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) under the Forest Department. The government has approved the move. Hence, the management is likely to be handed over to the ZAK within a month.