A zoo proposed at M.R. Palayam near here has begun to take shape.
Basic infrastructure works are under way inside the Trichy Zoo which is coming up on 30 hectares near Tiruchi – Chennai national highway. Being established inside the reserve forest area, the Mini Zoo is being funded by the State government after obtaining in-principle approval from the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).
With ₹ 2.4 crore granted by the government, the Forest Department has put in place four enclosures for spotted deer, sambar deer, barking deer and black buck besides formation of walkways, construction of frontage pylon, periphery wall, power station, zoo entrance, rest room, ticket counter along with cloak room and an overhead water tank.
A compound wall with chain-link fence for a distance of 5.4 km was erected in 2009-10. There was not much progress thereafter. An expert committee was formed. Based on the discussion, it was decided to proceed on the lines of a Mini Zoo concept.
An annual plan proposal for the zoo during the 2017-18 detailing the need for creation of more facilities and other works inside the zoo including veterinary infrastructure, tourist facilities and construction of additional enclosures has been forwarded to the government. The department has sought over ₹7 crore to execute the works.
The Forest Department has prepared an all-inclusive revised master plan for a 10-year period from 2016-17 to 2025-26 including provision for future development area.
The plan encompasses a huge layout for the zoo; animals and birds to be exhibited for public display; details of proposed animal enclosures; animal collection plan (male and female); details of flora and fauna; disaster management plan, emergency evacuation of animals; fire fighting; emergency food supply; first aid centre for visitors and a contingency plan to prevent escape of animals from enclosures and to combat epidemics and a separate system to deal with solid and liquid waste.
The plan mentions recurring and non-recurring expenditure for the zoo which would be controlled by a senior official in the rank of an Assistant Conservator of Forest.
District Forest Officer N. Satish told The Hindu that the plan projecting ₹60 crores has been forwarded to the CZA for scrutiny, evaluation and approval. All works inside the zoo would be carried out as per CZA guidelines. The zoo would be opened to public after completion of all works.
Animals proposed to be housed here are to be collected from Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur besides from Udhagamandalam deer park, Amriti Zoo, Vellore besides from the Mysore Zoo and Thiruvananthapuram Zoo and other approved zoos of CZA.
