Patna, Jan. 5: A technical team of Central Zoo Authority officials is all set to visit Patna zoo this month to assess its current position.

The team would also suggest steps required to improve the present condition of the zoological gardens.

The visit of the Central Zoo Authority team is important, as it is only after the approval of the team that the central authority would release funds for the plan the state submitted for improving the conditions of the zoo.

The forest department submitted a Rs 25-crore master plan to the Central Zoo Authority around four months back. Some of the major tasks that the forest department wants to carry out are setting up a rhinoceros safari inside the zoo, new enclos-ures for the animals, increasing the size of the existing enclosures, setting up a new aviary, widening the roads, setting up a separate path for pedestrians, excavating a new pond for gharials and renovating gate number two.

The director of Patna zoo, Abhay Kumar, recently made a presentation of the master plan before the officials of the Central Zoo Authority.

The officials, in turn, placed some suggestions to be incorporated in the final master plan.

“The officials of the Central Zoo Authority suggested that steps should be taken to check the practice of allowing morning walkers inside the zoo,” Kumar told The Telegraph.

He said the zoo has forwarded a proposal to the state government to phase out the practice as many new parks have now come up in Patna that can be used as an alternative by these walkers.

“One of the suggestions put forward by us was to introduce a pass system and imposing a nominal fee. This would discourage the visit of non-serious walkers and thus the number would go down automatically,” the zoo director added.

At present, around 3,000 visitors come to the zoo everyday for morning walk. Over 100 such walkers come to the zoo in the evening as well. The zoo director said once the number of walkers goes down, it would be easy to take any decision about putting this practice to an end.

The members of the Central Zoo Authority also suggested that special arrangements be made to screen the breeding enclosures of the animals so that the presence of visitors does not create any problems.

Another important advice was having a separate rescue enclosure for the animals. As things stand now, injured animals are kept in the zoo hospital. No space is allotted in the zoo that could be used for animals recovering from injuries.

The members of the Central Zoo Authority also suggested that a multi-storeyed parking facility be set up at the main gate of the zoo for use in the future.

“All these suggestions were made orally. Once the authority sends these recommendations in writing, steps would be taken to incorporate these in the revised master plan,” said Kumar.