Mysuru zoo gets a facelift under master plan

Rs 4.75-crore spent on providing new facilities to animals, visitors

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popularly known as Mysuru Zoo in the city, has been given a facelift at a total cost of Rs 475.50 lakh under various heads and the new facilities will be formally inaugurated by Forest and Environment Minister B Ramanath Rai on Wednesday.

Director of the Zoo B P Ravi told Deccan Herald that Rs 333 lakh have been spent on 13 projects under JnNurm funds.

“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 added.

According to the master plan, the enclosures of the lions and leopards, which were earlier housed on the Race Course side of the Zoo have been shifted on either side of the tiger’s enclosures — and the area has been christened ‘mega carnivorous zone’.

While the enclosure for the leopards has cost Rs 48 lakh, the lion’s enclosure has cost Rs 45.50 lakh. The entrance plaza will enable the visitors to enter the Zoo premises even before they purchase their tickets. So, they can buy tickets comfortably under shade — free from dust and the noise of vehicles on the road outside, Ravi said.

The works executed under 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 water 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.

Under the master plan, an attempt has been made to comprehensively develop the entire zoo, to make it future ready. 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 an atmosphere of forest, due to 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 a cost of Rs 43.91 lakh, he added.