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A dedicated shelter for displaced animals will be built on the 10-hectare site. (Press Trust photo)
Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) will oversee the management of this new facility.
The fast-moving Noida airport project, spearheaded by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is significantly changing the local landscape and displacing several villages. To combat the environmental impact, authorities launched a comprehensive wildlife restoration program.
Under a 30-year lease agreement, a purpose-built sanctuary for displaced animals will be built on 10 hectares of land near Dhanauri wetlands. The project, with a budget of Rs 5 crore, aims to protect local wildlife and mitigate ecological damage. Noida International Airport Limited (NIAL) will oversee the management of this new facility.
The first phase of the Noida International Airport development is spread over an area of 1,334 hectares and covers six villages, affecting the habitats of various wildlife species, including wildebeest, blackbuck, Indian chinkara, monkeys, golden jackals, wild cats and cranes. To address the environmental impact, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in Dehradun has proposed setting up a rescue center as part of a wider biodiversity conservation strategy.
YEIDA CEO Arun Veer Singh approved the construction of the center, which will be built on an area of 10 hectares, of which 5 hectares will come from YEIDA and 5 hectares from the Forest Department.
The budget for the upcoming wildlife rescue center has been outlined, with Rs 74 lakh allocated for the animal hospital and Rs 21 lakh for the quarantine centre. The facility will provide specialized enclosures for a variety of species, including monkeys, wildebeest and black deer. An annual maintenance budget of Rs 10 lakh is required to ensure its proper maintenance.
The construction plan is currently awaiting final approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA). The proposal has been approved by the CZA Drawing Committee and is currently undergoing technical review. Once the technical review is completed, it will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests for final authorization. The state government will then select a construction agency to implement the scheme.
