Bihar Govt Removes Sanjay Gandhi's Name From Patna Zoo, Dairy Technology Institute

The BJP-led government in Bihar on Wednesday renamed the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park as ‘Patna Zoo’. At a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, the government approved a series of key decisions, including renaming prominent institutions and expanding welfare schemes and education projects.

One of the headline decisions was the renaming of the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park in Patna as “Patna Zoo”. The state-run zoo, located off Bailey Road in the state capital, was earlier named after late Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi, son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Opened to the public in 1973, the zoo spans 153 acres and houses more than 800 animals of over 110 species.

The cabinet also approved the renaming of the Sanjay

Gandhi Institute of Dairy Technology as the “Bihar State Institute of Dairy Technology”. The ICAR-accredited institute, established by the state government in 1980 in Patna, offers BTech and MTech programmes in dairy technology.

61 Decisions Taken In Cabinet Meeting

Among the 61 decisions taken during the meeting, the cabinet sanctioned Rs 23,165 crore for the “Mukhyamantri Vidyut Upbhokta Sahayta Yojana”, under which power consumers in Bihar receive 125 units of free electricity every month. Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat Department, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary, said the allocation will enable the Power Department to provide subsidies to consumers during the current financial year.

The scheme, announced in July last year by then chief minister Nitish Kumar, was widely regarded as one of the welfare measures that aided the ruling NDA in returning to power in the subsequent assembly elections.

In another significant move, the cabinet approved Rs 104 crore for the establishment of degree colleges under the “Saat Nischay-3” programme in 208 blocks that currently do not have such institutions. “A total of 9,152 teaching and non-teaching posts will be created for these colleges. Each institution will also receive Rs 50 lakh for renovation of provisionally identified buildings and other expenses to begin academic sessions,” Chaudhary said.

The government also cleared the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for the treatment of persons with autism, with land earmarked for the facility in Patna’s Gardanibagh area.

Additionally, the government cleared the allotment of 2.34 acres of land in Patna for the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT). The land will be provided on a renewable 30-year lease.