The Hindu    20.08.2012

Civic body to find space for Zoo

Corporation was already on the job of getting its share of the land adjacent to the VOC Park area for shifting the zoo to a spacious area, as directed by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), said Mayor S.M. Velusamy and Corporation Commissioner T.K. Ponnusamy on Thursday.

Mr. Velusamy said that 50 acres of land at Vellalore was given to the Home Ministry for setting up the Rapid Action Force (RAF) battalion. In lieu of the same, the civic body was yet to get its share of land.

He said that the civic body was on the job of getting 44 acres of land that belonged to the Prison Department in Gandhipuram.It has plans to combine the Central Bus Stand, Express Bus Stand and Town Bus stand into one complex with parking facilities.

The facility would come up in nine acres including the two acres that was in its possession at present.On getting the land, the Corporation will plan for shifting the zoo to a spacious premises by appointing a consultant for designing the zoological park.

The Corporation could even give its land abutting the existing zoo to make it more spacious.The objective is to have the zoo retained in the heart of the city for the benefit of the visitors.

The licence for the Corporation’s mini zoo at VOC Park in 4.61 acre land is due for expiry in July, 2013. Considering the space constraints already solitary animals had been shifted.Mr. Ponnusamy said that it is suffice, if the Corporation identifies the land, finalises the design and plan and hands over the same to the CZA before the expiry of the licence period.

On getting time extension, the Corporation could speed up the construction and creation of required infrastructure, he said.