Eco-friendly move: No more plastic in Nandanvan Safari from Aug 18

Raipur: In a significant step towards environmental conservation, the Nandanvan Jungle Safari, Nava Raipur, management has issued a fresh directive to ensure a complete ban on the entry of plastic bags, bottles, etc. into the Safari.
Jungle Safari Director Dhammashil Ganavir stated that visitors will no longer be allowed to bring plastic items into the safari, effective from August 18.Additionally, the sale of products with plastic packaging will be prohibited within the safari. Tourists are being continuously educated about the harmful effects of plastic on the environment, and they are being amde aware about adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle through the principles of recycling, reusing, and reducing. The excessive use of plastic is causing significant damage to the environment, and the govt is consistently discouraging its use.
This initiative has been taken under the instructions of Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap and the guidance of Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sudhir Agrawal.
The Jungle Safari, located in Naya Raipur, will be open for public from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 AM to 4 PM. However, it will remain closed on Mondays. Plastic-packaged products will no longer be available inside the safari. The jungle safari aims to raise awareness about measures to combat climate change.
The management has given a mandate for the visitors that before enetring the safari, those visitors who will be carrying the plastic bottles would be given a barcode. Once, they scan it they will have to pay a certain amount. For example if the bottle costs Rs 20, they will have to pay Rs 50 and once they visit the safari and return back with their bottles, the money will be refunded to them. This move is taken in order to stop the littering of plastics and to make the area clean and plastic free
Around 500 tourists visit the Safari daily. The number of visitors increases on weekends and during festivals, sometimes exceeding 1,000.
For Jungle Safari tour, the fare for a non-AC bus is set at Rs 100. Children under 12 years are charged Rs 25. The fare for an AC bus is Rs 150, with children under 12 charged Rs 50. Entry to the zoo is free for children under 12 years of age.
Tourists carrying cameras will have to pay additional charges such as Rs 100 for a still/digital camera and Rs 500 for a handy cam/video camera (regular). Commercial video cameras are not allowed without permission.
The safari is divided into four enclosures, where tourists can see tigers, lions, bears, and deer in open areas. The Bear Safari covers 20 hectares, while both the Tiger and Lion Safaris also span 20 hectares each.