Plastic ban in Indira Gandhi Zoological Park from April 1

VISAKHAPATNAM: Come April 1 and visitors to the city's Indira Gandhi Zoological Park (IGZP) will be greeted by boards, banners, placards and labels with environment-friendly messages and warnings aiming at a plastic and litter-free premises as well as on zoo etiquette, with the authorities imposing a plastic ban from that day.
Messages such as "No plastic, no littering.Violaters would be fined upto Rs 500" and "Polythene bags are banned. Plastic bottles are allowed only with a caution deposit" will be displayed. There would also be messages on zoo etiquette such as "Don't litter and smoke in and around the zoo", "Do not shout, annoy or tease animals. Don't play music", "Don't throw objects, tap or bang on exhibit glass or cages, don't touch or feed animals".
The 625-acre zoological park, which is home to nearly 900 animals and birds of around 90 species, attracts 1,200-1,500 visitors daily and more than 2,000 on Sundays and holidays, who often carry disposable plastic utensils and polythene bags with them for lunch and litter the place.
"To begin with, we will place two fibre boards on the main gate (situated on National Highway 16) and Sagarnagar gate at the rear. Around a dozen wooden placards or signboards would be placed at various spots inside the zoo, some on the trees and near animal enclosures, cautioning public to refrain from using plastic, littering or disturbing animals. The reverse of the entry tickets would also have a stamp mentioning the plastic ban," explained IGZP curator G Ramalingam.
During entry, jute bags would be given to the public to carry food and other things. "These bags would be given against a deposit of Rs 25-Rs30, which would be refunded when they return the bags while leaving. Similarly, plastic water bottles would be allowed inside against a deposit of Rs 10 and stickers stuck on them bottles at the time of entry. Once they show the bottles at the gate, while leaving the zoo, the money would be returned to them," said Ramalingam.
This endeavor of the zoo authorities has been lauded by enthusiastic youngsters from local NGOs and zoo volunteers. The enthusiasts, including S Ravi Kanth Reddy, founder-president, Mother Earth Environmental Consciousness Society, Vivek Rathod, founder of Trendsetters Charitable Trust (TCT), member Vijay Potnuru and zoo volunteer Vinit D, had come up with ideas for an effective ban and designed and prepared the content for the banners, boards, placards, and stamp on the tickets informing about the plastic ban and observation of zoo etiquette.
"We hope the ban that's going to be imposed from April 1 becomes effective and is implemented strictly. Later on, such an eco-friendly approach can be extended to other public or tourist spots such as parks and beaches. There should also be a few volunteers or guides who can give a two-minute lecture to the public at the entry gate, about zoo etiquette and the newly-imposed plastic ban," suggested Ravi Kanth Reddy.
In the last three years, the zoo got 36 new species of animals and around 12 new species between 2013 and 2014. The revenue earned by IGZP in 2012 was Rs 1.16 crore, while in March 2013 it was Rs 1.92 crore.
"This year (2013-2014), because of the Samaikyandhra agitation and the impact of cyclones and rains, the revenue did not increase considerably but still we are sure that it would touch Rs 2 crore," said the curator.