Zoo will be self-reliant in water

MYSORE: After financial self-reliance, the century-old Mysore Zoo is inching closer to becoming self-reliant in sourcing water. Under one of the 11 projects under JnNURM scheme, the zoo is renovating three ponds in its premises with a view to recharge groundwater. Earlier, MCC used to supply about 1 lakh litre of Cauvery water to the zoo through a separate pipeline. But now, the zoo has been receiving less than 50,000 liters per day from MCC. For the rest, the zoo sources water from Karanji Lake and borewells. The zoo, at times, fails to get the required 7-8 lakh litre of water which is needed to meet the demands of animals and to maintain the garden. To address the problem, the zoo authorities have gone in for recharging groundwater by rainwater harvesting and water conservation. A huge amount of excess water from the lake was going into storm water drain, passing through the zoo premises. The water was going waste in the absence of proper water conservation system. By rejuvenating the ponds, the zoo should be able to conserve water and increase its groundwater level. The work on the water conservation project, started in September 2012, will get over by September 2013. The zoo will become self-reliant in water once the work is completed. As the three ponds are situated at different places of the zoo, the water will be utilized in the respective areas. Contaminated water, which flows out of Karanji Lake, will be purified and utilized for watering the garden. Borewell water will be used for animals. Zoo director B P Ravi said going along with the nature will be beneficial, rather than going against it. Ravi told STOI: "During summer, we even fetched water through tanks from Karanji Lake to meet the demand. The project, once ready, will help zoo become self-reliant with regard to water."

Source - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/zoo-will-be-self/reliant-in-water/articleshow/20839055.cms