Tripura gets Rs 57 crore for renovation of Sepahijala zoo

Tripura has received a whopping sum of Rs 57 crore from the Ministry for Development of North East Region (DoNER) for infrastructure development of the state’s lone Sepahijala zoo, Tripura forest Minister Animesh Debbarma said on Friday.

The Minister was speaking to the reporters during his impromptu visit to the zoo after the forest department faced criticism for not being able to maintain the tourist destination properly.

“Recently, a foreign tourist couple visited the zoo. They were interviewed by reporters and they expressed their disappointment over the presence of discarded plastic wastes here and there all over the zoo. The media report drew a wide response and hence I decided to make a surprise visit. I don’t wish to overrule what the couple said but my experience here is totally different. Despite it being a surprise visit, I don’t see any discarded plastic waste littered anywhere in the zoo,” Debbarma said.

According to him, from now on a log-book system will be introduced for those who are willing to take plastic materials inside the zoo. “Those who wish to enter the zoo with plastic materials, they must put their signatures on the logbook and if any plastic materials are found littered on the public spaces, they will be held responsible,” said Debbarma.

On being asked about development projects for the zoo, Debbarma said, “We have already received a sum of Rs 57 crore for development of the zoo. These funds would be utilised for new and advanced infrastructure development in the whole area. We already have a plan prepared by the Central Zoo Authority for the Sepahijala zoo. Apart from that, talks are underway to bring exotic animal species here in the zoo through animal exchange programmes.”