BANGALORE: Dropping its earlier plans of closing down non-profit-making mini zoos in the state, the Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) is spending Rs. 1 crore on improving infrastructure in these zoos.Accordingly, Rs. 15 lakh has been released for Kittur Rani Chennamma Nisarghadham in Belgaum and Davangere Zoos.In fact, the state government was spending Rs.1 crore on maintenance of these mini zoos even though the gate collection was less than Rs. 20 lakh per annum from all the zoos. At one point, ZAK had planned to shut shop and shift the a nimals to other zoos. But now, it is releasing money to improve facilities in the zoos at a cost of Rs.1 crore.Already, Belgaum mini-zoo has got Rs.15 lakh and the Binkadkatte Zoo near Gadag Zoo will receive Rs. 30 lakh only after the authorities concerned send details of proposed improvements to ZAK.Both Gulbarga and Davangere Zoos too would receive Rs. 15 lakh each, said ZAK chairman M Nanjundaswamy. He told Express that of the eight zoos in the state, three are big and the rest are mini zoos.Visitors to the mini zoos were negligible mainly due to the lack of publicity.The process of shifting the Bellary Zoo is underway with land being identified near Kamalapura.The government had already released Rs. 20 crore to ZAK for this purpose.But due to escalating costs, a revised estimate was prepared and sent to the Finance Department for its approval. “I will be visiting the proposed zoo site this week. I am also planning to visit the Gulbarga Zoo to make it attractive. ZAK has requested the state government to release a grant of Rs. 1 crore to meet the expenditure of five mini zoos,” he said.
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