Sambalpur to get second Nandankanan........

Sambalpur, June 10: Orissa’s forest and environment minister Debi Prasad Mishra today announced that the department has a proposal to build a zoo in Sambalpur. “This is a long pending proposal for Sambalpur. The department will identify land for the zoo. We have a target to send a proposal to the Centre by October this year,” said Mishra. “The department also has a proposal for setting up a rescue centre in Sambalpur. The centre will include specialists who will be trained to tranquillise wild animals,” he said. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had declared earlier this year that Sambalpur would get a zoo at Laxmi Dungri, a hill on the outskirts of the city on the bank of the Mahanadi river. This would be a second Nandankanan of the state, said the chief minister. “It is a welcome decision by the government, but they should be serious about implementing the proposal. The chief minister had declared that the Laxmi Dungri would be converted into a zoo. But unfortunately, the proposal is yet to be materialised,” said Sameer Mohanty, a local resident. “I am happy to know that we will get a zoo in our city. I must say that this project will be a value addition to the tourism in western Orissa as there is no zoo in this part of the state,” said Devapriya Priyadarshi, a student of Sambalpur University. Mishra said: “After proper verification of the land, the department will proceed further on the matter. Water availability and pollution would be major criterion to be considered for developing the project.” “This is the international year of forest and biodiversity. The department has a proposal for plantation in 2,50,000 hectares. Last year, the department had a proposal for plantation in 6,864 hectares in Sambalpur. This year, the forest department has set a target for plantation in 12,075 hectares in Sambalpur,” the minister said. “The department also has a proposal for 1,000km of avenue plantation in the state. There will be avenue plantation of 95km in Sambalpur. The forest department is also thinking about including schools in the plantation programme. “Any school, which has fencing and boundary wall, will be included in this programme. Initially, the department will undertake plantation in 50 schools of every district,” he said .