Workers barracks off Nandankanan

BHUBANESWAR: The Nandankanan Zoological Park will shift its workers’ barracks from the premises. At least 72 zoo workers and their families will be relocated as part of the exercise to reduce human interference.The zoo management has come up with a Rs 1.5-crore project for the relocation which will include construction of new housing units for the workers near the parking lot outside the park. The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) has been entrusted with the job on the zoo land.The proposal for the relocation was presented before the recent meeting of the governing body of the zoo and approved.At present, the 72 families are accommodated on a land of about 10 acre over two patches inside the main zoo, closer to the safaris. Since the original entry gate to Nandankanan was located that side, the barracks were positioned there. However, with increasing inmates, renovation and rising visitor footfalls, the relocation has been necessitated.Besides, it was also inconvenient for the workers for far too long. Since the zoo was a restricted area, entry and exit by family members and kin during the normal time and at times of exigency created problems. For their day-to-day needs, the barracks were also a little far off. The proposed housing units will be closer to the market area.Besides, the zoo management also plans to make better use of the vacant land after the relocation. Creation of grass plantations for free-living animals is proposed.The governing body of the zoo had also proposed a walk-through aviary in the zoo, a first in the country. The multi-species aviary will be developed as a star attraction. That apart, renovation of the nocturnal house and the museum will top  this year’s agenda.