Cuttack, Feb. 29: Animals at the city's lone deer park are exposed to heat wave conditions due to absence of adequate rest sheds.

Though the Cuttack Municipal Corporation had planned to build two permanent rest sheds in 2015 at the Madhusudan Nagar deer park, only one such facility was built for Rs 3.5 lakh.

Sources said funds crunch had led to the delay in building the permanent structure.

Earlier every year, the corporation used to build at least three temporary rest sheds made of bamboo and straw - where the animals would assemble for food and water. The civic body used to spend nearly Rs 4 lakh towards construction of the temporary structures to protect the animals from excess heat wave conditions as water was sprinkled to provide the animals with a cool environment.

"But, the contractor has stopped work for construction of the second permanent rest shed at the park due to non-payment. However, we hope that the work would be over before March end," said local councillor Ramzan Khan.

"The animals have already been exposed to extreme heat wave conditions as no concrete measures have been taken so far to protect them from the heat by the civic body," said Markat Nagar resident Kaushal Agarwal.

At present, the park, which was set up in 1981, houses nearly 170 animals. But, it lacks basic infrastructure to house so many deer.

A senior park official, who did not wish to be named, said: "The park is overcrowded. Primarily, it requires more permanent rest sheds to protect the animals from heat wave. However, in view of the animal population at the Madhusudan Nagar deer park, a second park has become the need of the hour."

He said the corporation should speed up works for the proposed second deer park at the earliest.

Local residents, to whom the park is one of the favourite hang out zones, too, demand early measures to protect the deer from dehydration by providing them with special diet.

"Usually, the civic body provides cabbage, water melons and other fruits in rich water content from April 1. But keeping in view the rise in temperature, the corporation should start the service at the earliest," said Mission Road resident Sanjany Das.

Khan said all issues related to the park would be raised at the civic body's council meeting.