Mysuru zoo gets a facelift under master plan

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens has been given a facelift at a total cost of Rs 475.5 lakh. From the entrance plaza to new facilities, the renovating project has left the century-old zoo future-ready.

Director of the Zoo B P Ravi told Deccan Herald that Rs 333 lakh has been spent on 13 projects under the JnNurm funds. An attempt has been made to comprehensively develop the whole zoo, he said.

“Under JnNurm funds, the Centre has provided Rs 264 lakh and the State government and the Zoo Authority of Karnataka have pooled their share of Rs 33 lakh each. Besides, an entrance plaza has been constructed at a cost of Rs 49 lakh with the zoo’s funds and new enclosures have been developed for leopards and lions at a cost of Rs 93.50 lakh with the Central Zoo Authority funds, under the master plan,” he said. Forest and Environment Minister B Ramanath Rai recently inaugurated the new facilities at the zoo.

Enclosures for lions and leopards, which were earlier housed on the Race Course side of the Zoo have been shifted to either side of the tigers’ enclosures. The area has been christened ‘mega carnivorous zone’.

While the leopards enclosure has cost Rs 48 lakh, the lion’s enclosure has cost Rs 45.50 lakh.

The entrance plaza will enable visitors to enter the Zoo premises before they purchase their tickets. They can now buy tickets comfortably under shade — free from the dust and noise of vehicles on the road outside, said Ravi.

The zoo, which was established in 1892, primarily to quench the curiosity of the rich and the nobles and to showcase the visits of the royalty abroad, has evolved into a conservation centre over the years, Ravi said. With the recent initiatives, the groundwater table has increased and the plants have become greener and dense to create the atmosphere of a forest with rainwater harvesting and surface water management.

Due to extensive works, the roads and paths had to be dug up, so the entire network has been relaid with asphalt at the cost of Rs 43.91 lakh, he said.

The works executed under the JnNurm funds are: rejuvenation of two lakes and construction of a new lake; construction of overhead and ground-level tanks for water storage; water cascades near tiger enclosure, lakes and band stand; development of a canal system inside the zoo premises; laying of an underground drainage system; asphalting of the roads inside the zoo; construction of three shelters for visitors and rainwater harvesting system; installation of sprinklers for horticulture and gardening purpose; development of the kalyani, also called Tharangini Mule, and a fountain; aeration of water by circulating it from the birds enclosure to the crocodiles enclosure; construction of bridges near Mithun Mane and laying of roads besides the Thandi Sadak (cool road); laying of horse-shoe shape outlet for a lake; and setting up of an eco-friendly crematorium.