(IN): Assam zoo declared no-smoking zone

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Link:http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080926/jsp/northeast/story_9889278.jsp

 

*Assam zoo declared no-smoking zone*

*- Chief minister Tarun Gogoi makes announcement, flags off 41 vehicles for

forest staff*

A STAFF REPORTER

 

 

*Guwahati, Sept. 25:* Irritating puffs of smoke and carelessly thrown

cigarette ends will no longer bother either the visitors or the animals at

Guwahati zoo.

 

Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi today declared the zoo a " no-smoking zone "

during a short function, making the zoo the first in the region to adopt

such a policy.

 

The divisional forest officer of the zoo, Narayan Mahanta, said visitors

would not have the luxury of enjoying a puff while going round the zoo,

which will be preserved as a green lung of the city.

 

" We would not like to be harsh but this is a fervent appeal to all visitors

not to smoke within the zoo, " Mahanta said.

 

Signboards have been put up at prominent places in the zoo asking the people

not to smoke.

 

" I had requested forest minister Rockybul Hussain to declare the zoo a

no-smoking zone and he readily agreed to it, " Mahanta said.

 

The zoo has already been declared a no-polythene zone.

 

The zoo staff has been asked to keep a watch on the visitors and ask them

not to smoke.

 

" We will ask them politely to follow the rules as it is for the good of all

concerned, " Mahanta said.

 

The Union minister for health and family welfare, Anbumani Ramadoss, has

already said the Centre would strictly enforce the ban on smoking in public

places from October 2.

 

The Centre has notified the revised Rules on the Prohibition of Smoking in

Public Places on May 30 this year.

 

According to the revised rules, smoking is banned in shopping malls, cinema

halls, public/private workplaces, hotels, banquet halls, discotheques,

canteen, coffeehouse, pubs, bars, airport lounges and railway stations.

 

Gogoi said an increase in the number of animals is also becoming a problem

for the zoo.

 

He said the government is trying to provide all kinds of facilities to

foresters so that they work for the conservation and protection of wildlife.

 

 

" They will not work if facilities are not provided, " Gogoi said.

 

Altogether 41 vehicles were provided to different forest divisions and

flagged off from the zoo by Gogoi.

 

" The vehicles are to enable the forest officials to go inside the forest

areas, " Gogoi said.

 

Forest and environment minister Rockybul Hussain said the forest department

is now working in close co-operation with the people and has initiated joint

forest management.

 

" I have been informed that the number of rhinos in Kaziranga is increasing

and is now close to 2,000, " Hussain said.

 

Gogoi also inaugurated an enclosure for primates and an operation theatre

for the zoo hospital.

 

 

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