People at Patna zoo. Telegraph picture

Patna, Jan. 25: The plan to make Patna zoo a polythene-free zone from January has come to a naught for want of a supplier of recyclable paper bags at a reasonable price and the visitors’ reluctance to buy them.

The zoo authorities had planned to sell recyclable paper bags to visitors for carrying their personal belongings inside the zoo. While the visitors did not find the idea of buying “fragile” paper bags exciting, the zoo authorities failed to strike a fair deal with any of their suppliers.

“These two factors stopped us from introducing the proposed system which would have banned carrying polythene bags into the zoo,” Patna zoo director Abhay Kumar told The Telegraph.

The zoo authorities have not given up, though. They have chalked out a new plan, which would help achieve the goal of making the zoo premises a polythene-free zone.

“We have decided to provide cloth bags, preferably made of jute, to the visitors bringing their personal belongings in polythene bags. Jute bags being durable, the visitors would not mind purchasing them at a reasonable price,” Kumar said.

The zoo director said efforts were on to find suppliers of jute bags of different sizes at a reasonable price. “As the process will take some time, we have decided to launch the anti-polythene drive on the zoo premises from April 1,” Kumar said.

Some more environment-friendly measures would be taken which would add to the convenience of visitors without hampering the environment of the zoo. One among them is to provide bicycles on rent to visitors willing to go around the zoo.

Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the portfolio of environment and forests, directed his department officials to start this facility. Modi also directed them to introduce battery-operated bus for visitors.

“The cycles will be available within a fortnight,” said the zoo director, adding the introduction of battery-operated bus service would take some time because it involved bidding of private players.

Modi had also directed the department officials to introduce elephant and camel rides on the zoo premises.

Kumar said these facilities would be introduced after getting the permission of central zoo authorities, as the existing norms were a bit vague on this front. Facilities apart, Modi has also directed the zoo officials to set up a labyrinth made of plant hedge inside the zoo. Its work will start very soon.

Plans are afoot to set up an auditorium and a souvenirs shop. A fountain, improved aquarium and snake enclosure are also on the cards.

As far as improving the condition of the aquarium is concerned, work would be carried out in two phases. Rs 25 lakh has been sanctioned to carry out the work in the first phase, Kumar said.