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Wednesday, Jul 30, 2008
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Minister promises to revive park

R. Ilangovan

— Photo: P. Goutham

Hopes soar: The State and Central governments have initiated efforts to improve the Kurumbapatti Zoological Park in Salem.

SALEM: Kurumbapatti Zoological Park near here, in a state of neglect for long, will spring to life thanks to development works, which will be undertaken shortly. The mini category park, situated on a sprawling 11 hectares of reserve forest lands at the foot of Shevaroyan Hills, is being maintained by the Department of Forests. But owing to delay in executing many important development works, the park, unlike the other ones in the country, has remained in the deep woods unattended. Pleas from the forest officials and the public that the park should be developed on a war-footing fell on the deaf ears of the bureaucracy. But the recent visit of the State Forest Minister Selvaraj has revived hopes of rejuvenating the park that has been left to decay. The minister promised that he would take necessary steps to revive it with flora and fauna for which adequate resources would be created at a cost of Rs. 10 crore. A master plan for its overall development is ready to be submitted to the State and Central governments. The first and foremost requirement is that the park should have a compound wall around it so that neither the poachers nor any predators encroach upon it. A sum of Rs 75 lakh is needed for the same. Other significant works include laying of cement roads, tiny bridges, check dams, drinking water facilities, watch towers, lawns and pedal boats for visitors. These projects can be executed with funds from the District Rural Development Agency and State Tourism Department at a cost of Rs 1.85 crore. At present the park boasts of a few spotted deer, two crocodiles, peacocks and peahens, tortoises etc. A forest official said black bucks, barking deer, white peacocks and snakes would be shortly brought from the Arignar Anna Zoological Park at Chennai. An exclusive birds’ cage would be erected to house exotic species.

To meet the demands of drinking water needs both for visitors and animals, the authorities have decided to construct overhead water tanks with a capacity of 1 lakh litres.

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