Thiruvananthapuram: Chief minister V D Satheesan’s proposal to relocate the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo from the city centre to a larger site, possibly near Neyyar forest area, has triggered a political debate, with mayor V V Rajesh backing the idea and former CPM mayor V K Prasanth opposing it.Rajesh said he would support the relocation irrespective of political considerations and pointed out that he had previously favoured shifting the zoo out of the city. He said the existing facility was operating within limited space and needed to evolve into a modern zoological park with better facilities.The mayor also cited the noise generated by programmes at Nishagandhi, saying it caused disturbance to the animals and birds at the zoo. He said locations such as Kottur could be considered if adequate transport connectivity from the city was ensured.According to Rajesh, relocating the zoo could also help ease traffic congestion in the city and promote development and economic activity outside the city centre. He said arguments based on heritage and nostalgia should not prevent the city from considering new development possibilities.However, Prasanth opposed the relocation proposal, alleging that commercial interests could be behind the move. He questioned whether the zoo and museum land were being eyed for commercial development and said the Left would oppose the proposal if the govt proceeded with it.Prasanth said more than 12 lakh people visit the zoo annually and that it generates around Rs 8 crore in revenue. He alleged that earlier attempts had also been made to relocate the zoo and museum.He criticised the decision-making process, alleging that stakeholders had not been consulted. He urged the CM to visit the zoo and museum and seek public opinion before proceeding with the proposal.Satheesan had said the existing zoo was not located in an appropriate setting and that keeping wild animals in the middle of the city raised concerns about animal welfare. At the Reimagining Keralam programme, he said the govt was considering relocating the zoo to a location close to a forest area.The zoo, spread across around 36 acres in the heart of the city, has faced calls for relocation in the past, mainly citing space constraints and the changing requirements of modern zoos.
