A zoo will be set up at Laxmi Dunguri, a place in between Burla and Sambalpur town in Western Orissa, Minister for Forest Debi Prasad Mishra said.
This would be the second zoo in the state after Nandankanan, Mr Mishra said, adding the proposal for setting up of the zoo at Laxmi Dunguri was passed by the state Assembly eight years back.
Mr Mishra, during his visit to the district yesterday, assured to expedite the matter. One hundred acres of land required for the zoo was available at Laxmi Dunguri and the river Mahanadi flowing close to the proposed site was an added advantage, he said.
The minister said a study would be made to assess the possible impact of Hindalco- a mega Aluminium manufacturing unit with captive power plant at Hirakud situated close to the proposed zoo site.
He said after finalisation of all these things, the proposal would be moved before the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) for the setting up of the zoo, he said.
Mr Mishra also said stern action would be taken against the polluting sponge iron industries in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda by July end.
No compromise would be made on the problem of environment pollution, the minister said.
”The problem of pollution by the sponge iron units has come to my notice and strong action will be taken against the polluting units,” he said.
