Master plan of zoo reaches final stage

TIRUCHI: A comprehensive master plan of the zoological park to be established inside the Reserve Forest (RF) at M.R. Palayam near here has reached the final stage of preparation and would be submitted to the State government within this month.

The Forest Department has incorporated a wide range of aspects in the “long-term” master plan, a pre-requisite as per the National Zoo Policy 1998 and recent guidelines of the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for establishing a zoo, including in it the scope for future developments of the park.

The voluminous document has suggested optimum utilisation of land, water and other resources inside the M.R. Palayam RF, adjoining the Tiruchi – Chennai National Highway, where the zoo will come up on a total area of 63 hectares

Among other things, the master plan includes present status of the M.R. Palayam RF, the zoo manpower and management arrangement, landscaping pattern, animal collection plan, veterinary care and a disaster management plan. The size of the enclosures and the number of animals to be kept inside also finds place in the document.

The plan has proposed Electronic Beat Security Patrolling System for enhanced security of the “modern” zoo. A rescue and rehabilitation centre, an interpretation centre to create awareness among people about wild life conservation and maintenance of ecological balance, children’s park; electronic signage to give directions to the public; disabled- friendly rest rooms; battery-operated vehicles for travelling inside the zoo and information screens.

The master plan has projected Rs.45 crore for overall development and maintenance of the zoo over a period of five years, says Deepak Srivasthava, Divisional Forest Officer, Social Forestry Division, Tiruchi, who has been assigned the task of preparing the document.

The plan is in the final stage and will be submitted to the CZA through the State government before March, says Mr. Srivasthava adding that it would provide a road map for future expansion of the zoological park.

Landscape pattern

He said the landscapping pattern will be based on six diverse eco systems and named after –‘kurinji, ‘mullai’, ‘paalai’, ‘marudham’, ‘neithal’ and ‘yavanam’.

The zoo will house around 500 animals of 50 species including lions, tigers, panthers, and endangered species such as malabar squirrel, mouse deer, marsh crocodile and lion-tailed macaque by creating natural habitats inside.

The CZA, an autonomous statutory body under the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, will provide funds 100 per cent for capital works including upkeep, animal housing and veterinary care facilities.

For works including construction of boundary wall and creation of drainage facility, the cost would be equally shared between the CZA and the State government. The CZA has already released Rs. 40 lakhs for the construction of boundary wall around the zoo.