Date:26/05/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/05/26/stories/2003052604530300.htm

Southern States - Pondicherry

Plan to establish zoo in Yelagiri Hills

By Our Staff Reporter

VELLORE May 25. The permission of the Centre has been sought for the establishment of a zoo in Yelagiri Hills. A letter has been sent to the Centre through the forest department in this connection, and once permission was obtained, steps would be taken to establish the zoo, according to A.C.Mohandoss, Collector.

Inaugurating the 20-day summer festival and a multi-departmental exhibition held at Yelagiri Hills on Saturday, the Collector said the zoo would be established after getting sufficient space and providing adequate facilities including food and water for the animals to he housed in the zoo. Referring to the plea for the construction of a check dam around the Jalagamparai falls, he said that there was a lake in Mangalam village on a higher plane from the falls. If this lake was desilted and a check dam constructed there, it would ensure perennial flow of water in the Jalagamparai falls throughout the year.

The Collector said that the Government has allotted a sum of Rs.10 lakhs for the development of the hills through the Department of Tourism. Of this, Rs.6 lakhs would be spent on construction of commercial complexes, Rs.1 lakh for establishing a permanent venue for a fruit and flower show, Rs.1 lakh for repairs to the boat house and Rs.1 lakh for providing dolls in the park for children to play. Besides, steps would be taken to attract tourists and provide lodging facilities, he said.

Dr.Mohandoss said that though the Government took several steps for the development of the tribals, they could not develop because of lack of unity among them and their habit of living as different groups. There were 5000 tribals living in 12 villages around the Yelagiri Hills. The government has divided them into nine groups for their development. But each group lived as separate sub-groups in different places. If they lived as a homogenous community in the same place, it would be possible to bring about quick development among them, he said.

Responding to the grievance of Tirupattur MLA, T.K.Raja that the 30-km road from Pudurnadu to Singarapettai was not in good condition, the Collector said that a proposal has been sent to the Government to sanction a scheme to upgrade the road.

The departments of information and public relations, tourism, animal husbandry, social welfare, nutritious meal scheme, agriculture, cooperation, health, Adi Dravidar Welfare, rural development, rehabilitation of the disabled, `Aavin', Khadi and Village Industries Board, Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), Building Centre, the municipalities of Tirupattur, Ambur, Ranipet and Walajapet, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, National Blindness Prevention Society and District Industries Centre participated in the multi-departmental exhibition.