HYDERABAD, Sept 17: The Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit bench, on Friday issued notices to the district nazim, DCO, Qasimabad Taluka Municipal Administration officials and contractors and the DPO on a petition, seeking provision of sufficient food , shelter and medicines to animals and facilities for visitors in the city zoo.

Two residents of Hussainabad, Kaleemullah Malak and Aijaz Ali Lashari, have filed the joint petition through Ayaz Latif Palijo advocate. They said that the Rani Bagh was the only zoo in Sindh, beside the one in Karachi, but it was being destroyed due to inefficiency, corruption, criminal negligence and lack of interest of the district government officials.

They said that in spite of presence 70 gardeners, greenery had almost vanished and trees were decaying in the zoo, and added that its 20 cages were in poor condition. Likewise, they said, no attention was being paid to animals whose reproduction and survival had been badly affected. Facilities of food, water, proper shelter and medications were not available to the animals and their condition was miserable, they deplored.

Recent incidents of deaths of a crocodile, a lion and some monkeys were few examples of indifferent attitude of officials and if no effort was made to take care of the zoo animals, all of them might die.

The contractors, Iqbal and Naeem, were supposed to provide 23 kilogrammes of meat, 160kg grass, 22kg grain, besides ice and milk to animals on daily basis but most of the amount allocated for this purpose was disbursed among the zoo officials and contractors, they alleged.

A number of taxes were being recovered from visitors and the Taluka Municipal Administration received income from different commercial activities held inside the zoo, they said.

The TMA also generated income close to Rs1 million on account of exhibitions but the zoo's condition remained unchanged, they pointed out. The petitioners said that the GOR police created problems for visitors and harassed them by demanding Nikahnama from couples.

They said that the matter involved public interest and they had no option but to approach the court. They prayed the court to direct respondents to improve conditions of the zoo and provide sufficient food, shelter and medicines to animals.

They said that the respondents should be directed to file a detailed report about existing food supply, income and development work of the zoo and they should take action against illegal activities of the TMA and GOR police officials.