Zoological park project back in limbo

The much-awaited zoological park project in Trichy has again fallen into a limbo after offering renewed hopes when it got off the planning stage and completed preliminary works. That was three months ago, and there has been no further word on the next phase.
The park, which was designed to be next only to the one at Vandaloor in Chennai in the state, was proposed in 2010. Preliminary works were carried out at the proposed site after spending Rs 2.4 crore. However, sources said that the project had hit a road block for want of funds. The state government has to sanction about Rs 7 crore for the next stage.
Demarcation of boundaries, fencing, entrance arch, pictorial sign boards and borewell with an overhead tank of 24,000 litres capacity have been established in the first phase. Four enclosures are to be set up at the facility to accommodate wild animals. Besides this, the park will have 17 types of amenities at an estimated cost of Rs 60 crore. Once completed, the facility, to be set up on 62 hectares, will be the fifth zoological park under the zoo authority in Tamil Nadu.
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The place selected for the park being dry and scrubland, many had expressed reservations at having the park at M R Palayam. But ample deer population, well-supported by a wildlife census which provided evidence of good mammal population, swayed the decision in favour of the area for establishing the zoo. "Moreover it was also decided to get water from Kollidam river through pipeline," says honorary wild life warden, Trichy forest division A Relton.
The forest department has also made some revisions in the proposal based on the recommendations of Central Zoo Authority of India (CZA) and Zoo Authority of Tamil Nadu. As per the norms for zoological park, there has to be a proper waste disposal system for treating both solid and liquid wastes generated in the zoo. Proper arrangement for drainage of excess water and removal of excreta and residual water from each enclosure have to be made.
"We were asked to make minor changes in the design of cages and installation of effluent treatment plant at the zoological park. The built-up area in any zoo should not exceed 25 per cent of the total area of the zoo," said a senior official of the forest department. The Central Zoo Authority would grant recognition keeping in view the interests of protection and conservation of wild life as well as other standards and norms, the official added.
"Believe it or not, only 3-5 percent of the population have seen wild animals after going into the wild. People may visit Coonoor in Udagamandalam but they hardly visit Mudumalai or Anamalai tiger reserve," says conservation scientist A Kumaraguru. Setting up of zoological park would provide them an opportunity to see the wild animals, he said.

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