Aviary to be completed by March

[LahoreEstate]

Islamabad

The construction work on the aviary in the spectacular Lake View Park would be completed by March at a cost of Rs12 million, which would be first of its kind in the country.

The aviary measuring 4 acres of land will have some unique species of birds from Australian cockatoos and parakeets to colorful South Africans macaws that would be provided with entirely natural environment in the facility.

Medical and quarantine facilities would also be available to the birds besides sunlight bulbs that would help protect them from frost and chill during winter and rainy seasons. Given the importance of vermin proof, effective measures would be taken to best prevent access by vermin including sparrows, predatory birds, rats, mice, snakes, lice and worms all of which are detrimental to the birds well-being.

Sanaullah Aman, a senior director at the Capital Development Authority (CDA) who had first prepared the plan for aviary when he was in-charge of Lake View Park project, told ‘The News’ that a team of experts hired by CDA suggested to import birds from Australia, Singapore, Japan and South Africa.

He said the aviary project was a part of Lake View project, which was aimed at providing a highly sophisticated recreational facility to the local visitors in line with the international standards.

The expression of interests (EoIs) were invited by local and foreign firms in September 2007, after which a firm was selected keeping in view its experience in development of wildlife habitat, environmental planning and availability of earth moving machinery, tower cranes and mixers.

Other features of the aviary include a hanging bridge between two observation gazebos over the lake, tame bird display areas, a souvenir shop, walkways, observation towers, elevated pathways, and a brooder and incubation room.

When contacted CDA Director Special Projects Sohail Ursani said the construction work on the aviary would hopefully be completed by March, which would be one of the exciting features of Lake View Park.

He said there are plans to procure rare species of birds at a cost of Rs10 million from such far off places as Australia, Singapore, Japan and South Africa.

All the species of birds would be provided with natural environment and these birds would also be protected against any harmful effects of local weather conditions, he said.

The aviary would be one of the most exciting features of the Lake View Park where some new attractive features are being furnished to make it a truly public recreational facility.

But there are many who have been showing reservations over some of the steps taken by CDA like introduction of motor-boating, apparently to enhance the scope of enjoyment for the visitors.

Those who oppose motor-boating are of the view that it has been continuously damaging the natural character of the park and after completion of aviary, the need for pure and natural environment would be further increased.

According to rough estimates, the motorboats in the Lake View Park in the peak season used to consume 500 litres of diesel per day. The latest research has revealed that a motor boat can consume only 70 per cent of diesel and emits remaining 30 per cent into the air, which means that 150 litres of raw diesel was being emitted daily in the air by these boats in the park.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=158872