LAHORE - After years of delay the Lahore Zoo master plan aiming at rehabilitation and upgradation of existing facilities has finally taken off. The pace of work, however, is extremely slow and the project is not expected to be completed in time. The master plan was approved in July 2005 and the project duration was 18 months at the cost of Rs 202.828 million. The work was started a number of times but was stopped due to certain alterations in the plan. By January this year Rs 50.473 million had been spent but a huge amount of this money was wasted due to the delay. The project has been in doldrums as the building cost has increased a lot and this issue has not been resolved while many new features like the fish aquarium are not being considered for the time being.   Now the final revised plan has been approved according to which the Lion, Bear, Monkey and Leopard Houses are being remodelled and facilities are being improved therein.  The plan also includes addition of new facilities like Chimpanzee Island, cafeteria, walkway and paths and hill development. Director Zoo Yousaf Pal while talking to The Nation on Wednesday said that he had been advised by his department not to comment on the project as in the past there had been many issues raised. "The Punjab Building Department has given assurance at a very high level that the project will be completed by October 31 this year. We are waiting to see that happen," he said. "The pace at which the work is going on will take at least six years to complete the project. Nobody is least bothered about the delay or the inconvenience it is causing to the visitors and animals," a Wildlife Department official said. The scribe visited the sites of construction that revealed that not more than a dozen labourers were executing the rehabilitation plan. Some structures have been raised while many structures raised earlier in the last two years remain abandoned. The structures raised in front of the chimps' cages are an example. Dust and sand continue to blow at most places due to the construction material lying around the walkways. The beautiful Lion House is in a deplorable condition. Most of the structure was demolished as per plan to replace it with a better one. But so far no work has been started and the debris is still lying around disturbing the lions. A grand food court has also been included in the master plan but presently substandard food items are being sold in the Zoo canteen. Despite the rates of food items being shown on a huge erected board, the contractors are charging almost the double. For instance the cold drink's approved rate is Rs 10 but the canteen contractors are charging Rs 17 for the same and it is the case with all the other food items. The weather is hot and humid these days. As in the past the animals have been provided desert coolers and fans. "When it is too humid the coolers are switched off and only the fans are used. We take all precautions to ensure that animals do not become sick due to hot and humid weather. They are given vitamins regularly in their diet to keep them healthy," Pal said.