If all had gone well, the City would have had its first biodiversity park by now. However, official apathy and lack of will to identify a place for the park have combined to ensure that the park still remains in the files.
   Considering the need to protect the diverse plant and animal species in the region, many of which were on the verge of extinction, the Forest Department, for the last five years, has been planning to set up a biodiversity or a 'biological’ park in or on the outskirts of the City.
   Two years ago, the Central and State Zoo Authority had accorded permission for the biodiversity park. Forest Department sources told Deccan Herald here that the park had become a ‘must’ to protect and develop biodiversity.
   However, there is a hitch: The department is not able to find a suitable place to locate the park. Moreover, the location should be large enough to accommodate both the park and the zoo.
‘Gross neglect’
   The park was the brain-child of former deputy conservator of forests N Rajashekar. The department has a zoo in a small park at the Public Gardens in the centre of the City. However, due to gross neglect by the authorities concerned, the zoo is on decline, and not many animals are left. Moreover, most of these animals are living in the most unhygienic conditions.
   Mr Rajashekar had planned to seek nearly 100 acres on the City outskirts to house the park and the department had plans to shift the zoo inside the park. Moreover, it also proposed to start a 'biodiversity information centre' there.  Moreover, importance was to be given to cultivation of rare plant species here, and animals on the verge of extinction were to be brought. A children's park, including a butterfly park, were also planned here.
Talks with GU
   Towards this, Mr Rajshekar had held talks with Gulbarga University authorities, and the latter in principle had agreed to provide around 65 acres in its campus on the City outskirts for setting up the bio-diversity park. But, the syndicate refused to ratify it, stating that the land could not be given to the Forest Department.
   As the stalemate continued, Mr Rajshekar was transferred. And a new vice-chancellor was appointed for the university. And their successors have not shown much interest in the project. Thus the bio-diversity park proposal is stalled for all practical purposes.