A civic body employee works at the Madhusudan Nagar deer park in Cuttack.

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation has started executing several suggestions made by an expert team from the Nandankanan Zoological Park to improve living conditions of animals at the park.

The civic body has also undertaken a project for the development of infrastructure and measures to stop accumulation of rainwater inside the park at Madhusudan Nagar. Waterlogging inside the park during the rains is a major problem for the civic body, which has begun levelling the ground.

"Following the suggestions of the expert team, we are now filling the area with sand to check the accumulation of rainwater. We will use over 300 tractor-loads of sand and debris to level the base," said ward No.16 councillor Ramzan Khan.

The absence of proper drainage channels meant it took days to remove the accumulated rainwater. However, now the civic body has constructed four temporary storage tanks and is clearing the water using pumps through a small outlet.

The park, which was established in 1981, now houses 173 animals.

Senior officials said the process of beautification as well as protecting the animals from being harassed by spectators are also under way. A second barricade is being installed on the Ring Road side for planting trees to provide more cover to the animals from heat. The barricades will also act as a deterrent for visitors. Around Rs 6 lakh will be spent on the drive.

Text by Vikash Sharma, picture by Badrika Nath Das