The Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav flagged off the toy train at the Kanpur Zoo on Tuesday through video conferencing in a programme organized at his residence. The occasion also saw the conclusion of the Wildlife Week celebrations across the state.
Speaking on the occasion the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said that this was the second toy train that had become functional this year, the first one being the toy train at the lucknow Zoo. “We have flagged off the toy train and we have also started work on the lucknow Metro. The Samajwadi Party has fulfilled all its promises that it made to the public” he said. lauding the forest department for the plantation work carried out the Chief Minister said that the Green Belt area under the Samajwadi Party has increased in the past two and a half years of Samajwadi rule. “The Forest Department has also planted trees in the off season and made efforts to protect them. The trees that have been planted in 2012 and 2013 are now growing and the result is showing” he said. Making a specific mention of the parijaat trees the Chief Minister said that most people who were not aware of these trees have contacted the local DFO’s for the parijaat tree” he said.
Minister of State For Forest Mehfooz Kidwai said that the sensitization of people was necessary towards wildlife which was the purpose served by the wildlife week celebrations. Drawing the attention of the Chief Minister towards the Katarniyaghat Wildlife Sanctuary he said that a highway runs through the middle of the sanctuary which causes a lot of disturbance and it was necessary to see that rounds are kept out of the sanctuary because this could increase the incidents of man animal conflict. Minister lucknow Zoological Gardens SP Yadav said that the Samjwadi Party had fulfilled all its commitments towards the people. “The Samajwadi Party has laid emphasis on the green belt and the eco tourism and while it is slowly fulfilling its promises the Central Government is only misguiding the public through false promises.
Principal Secretary Forest VN Garg said that the Kanpur Toy Train was a green train because no trees had been cut for its alignment. “Originally 600 trees had to be cut for the alignment but the Chief Minister stressed that no trees should be cut hence the alignment was changed” said Garg. He said that a sum of Rs 12.8 crores had been spent on the train which could accommodate 84 persons and had a track which was 12.8 crores. The Principal Secretary said that there was need to protect wildlife because though there was a decrease in the wildlife by 52 percent globally, there had been an increase in the human population by over 75 percent.