T’puram: Madavoor grama panchayat in the Kilimanoor area has approached the state govt with a proposal to establish the relocated Thiruvananthapuram Zoo at Ilamprocode, near the forest belt, citing the availability of a large tract of land and the area’s natural setting.The panchayat has already passed a resolution on Sept 16 seeking the establishment of the zoo at Ilamprocode and submitted a representation to the state govt. Panchayat president A Haseena and other representatives met chief minister V D Satheesan on Thursday to press for the proposal.Haseena said the chief minister gave a positive response to the proposal and assured the delegation that govt would study and assess the site before informing them about the further course of action.The panchayat has proposed the use of a vast forest area in Madavoor for the project. Forest minister Shibu Baby John has also been approached by the panchayat. According to Haseena, the minister said govt would ensure the protection of the reserve forest spread over around 429 acres and take a decision after examining how the area could be utilised.The panchayat has argued that Ilamprocode could provide adequate space for a large zoological park, including animal enclosures, visitor facilities and scope for future expansion. The area is also close to Jatayu Earth’s Center and has connectivity to the national and state highway network, according to the panchayat.The proposal comes amid the state govt‘s discussions on relocating the existing zoo from the densely built-up heart of Thiruvananthapuram to a forest-side location. Madavoor panchayat wants Ilamprocode to be considered along with other locations being examined for the project.The proposed site will have to undergo a detailed assessment covering land status, environmental implications, accessibility, forest protection, and the requirements for establishing and operating a modern zoological park.
