Bhagwan Birsa Biological Park is gearing for the set up of first fresh water aquarium house of eastern India on its premises. The technical bidding for this much awaited project will be held on December 16 in front of the Technical Evaluation Committee of Jharkhand Zoo Authority. Saturday will be the last date for the applicants to submit their tender for construction of this aquarium on design and build basis.
According to sources at Birsa Zoo, the infrastructure of this aquarium house was made years back but it remained unutilized due to lack of technical knowledge. Significantly, West Bengal’s seaside resort city Digha has a Marine aquarium making it the one of its kind in entire eastern region of this nation.
“In this bidding, we will ask the participating companies how they would go around the construction and minimum time frame required for this purpose as we are aiming to complete the aquarium establishment by March 2014. They are supposed to show their skills and experience on this issue in a Power Point Presentation,” said Birsa Zoo Director AK Patra.
Patra informed that a company from Ahmedabad and two companies from Chennai had approached them for queries on this tender bid. He said, “Till now they have not applied for this invitation.” The seven member committee to take decision over this bidding is led by Forest Development Agency’s Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) as Chairperson. Other six officers include Zoo Director, CCF Wildlife, CCF Vigilance, CCF Working Plan, Special Works Division Executive Engineer and District Fisheries Officer.
“After the presentation will be over the consultants or firms found technically competent by the Technical committee will be eligible to give financial proposal within fifteen days in a prescribed Performa uploaded in the website. We will finalize the company for this technical bid by December 17 to 18,” Patra mentioned.
Authority’s website states that the job which is to be done comprises of the completion of Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) tanks, Construction of iron stands for display, Quarantine tanks, Construction of all fittings in all glass aquarium, Aqua Scaping, Electrical work, Commission of Aquarium and maintenance for one year from the date of Commission.
The final tender bidder will suggest the zoo officials on what type of fishes must be kept in this fresh water aquarium and how they can be maintained. Patra said, “The building already has 10 RCC tanks and 50 All Glass Aquariums.”
