State forms panel to look into sea water aquarium

The plan to modernise the 60-year-old Taraporewala aquarium, the only one in Mumbai, into an oceanarium is finally inching ahead.

The plan to modernise the 60-year-old Taraporewala aquarium, the only one in Mumbai, into an oceanarium is finally inching ahead.

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A nine-member committee headed by the chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad, consisting of secretaries of the animal husbandry, urban development has been formed to see that the project is soon a reality.

According to a government resolution (GR) issued on June 30, 2011, the committee will need to revert to the government on the way ahead — whether to accept the bidder, Eden Inc Berhad, a Malaysian firm which was shortlisted in February 2010, or float a fresh tender.

Eden Inc Berhad operates the Underwater World at Langkawi.

The GR adds that while this is being done, the committee will need to consider issues such as additional floor space index to be given for construction, the issue of coastal regulation zone clearance and no-objection from the environment department, which the urban development department will need to ensure.

If the government decides to finalise the deal with the available bidder, then the plan will include exhibiting 150 species of fish from international waters, minimum 50 fish from Indian waters, including four different types of large fish, such as sharks and sting rays.

It would have to sport underwater tunnel walkway with

180 degree vision, interactive programmes such as touch pools where visitors can feed fish, giant 6-metre-long window displays.