Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Rs. 4 cr. for upgrading facilities at Guindy park and Vandalur zoo

Staff Reporter

``Arignar Anna Zoological Park will be made one of the best zoos ''

MINISTER'S GESTURE: Union Minister of Environment and Forests A. Raja watches a staff handling an orphaned elephant calf at Vandalur zoo on Monday. N. Selvaraj, State Forests Minister, is also in the picture. — PHOTO: A. MURALITHARAN

CHENNAI : Union Minister of Environment and Forests A. Raja on Monday announced Rs. 4 crore for improving infrastructure in Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Vandalur and Children's Park at Guindy.

While the AAZP would get Rs. 3 crore, the remaining money would go to the Children's Park.

Mr. Raja said a proposal to improve facilities including visitors' amenities had been sent by AAZP authorites to the Union Ministry. Last month, a team from the Central Zoo Authority of India visited the zoo and accepted the zoo authorities' proposals.

With the funds, works such as improvement of animal houses, re-modelling of walkway through aviary, relaying of damaged old underground high-tension cables, landscaping, improvement of veterinary facilities, construction and strengthening of compound wall, improvement of drinking water and distribution, construction of visitors sheds, toilets, signage boards and augmenting the existing water harvesting structure, Mr. Raja said.

With the allocated fund of Rs. 1 crore for the Guindy park, works such as construction of enclosures for deer, monkeys and birds aviary, construction of a quarantine area, soil and moisture conservation work, provision of vehicle for removing garbage and improvement of otter enclosure would be taken up.

Efforts would be made to make the AAZP one of the best zoos in south India, Mr. Raja said. Two white tigers from Delhi Zoo would be added to the animal collection soon.

N. Selvaraj, State Forest Minister, R. P. S. Katwal, Additional Director General of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests, C. K. Sreedharan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Tamil Nadu, and Sukhdev, Chief Wildlife Warden, also participated .

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