Mysuru zoo gets Rs 1.2 crore from donors, minister seeks more aid

Lakshmikantha BK | TNN | Updated: May 3, 2020, 09:05 IST

Photo for representative purpose only

MYSURU: District incharge minister S T Somashekar visited Mysuru zoo for the third time in a fortnight on Saturday and handed over a cheque of Rs 45.3 lakh collected from donors in his constituency to zoo executive director Ajit M Kulkarni. Somashekar was accompanied by minister for food, civil supplies and consumer affairs K Gopalaiah.
During his previous visit on April 29, the minister had handed over a cheque of Rs 73.16 lakh collected from donors in his Yashvanthapura constituency to zoo authorities. So far the minister has ensured Rs 1.19 crore to the zoo for conservation activities amid a looming financial crisis emerging out of the continuous lockdown.
After minister Somashekar explained about the situation faced by Mysuru zoo, minister Gopalaiah donated Rs 8 lakh for the upkeep in the zoo and 25 kg rice bag each for 300 staff from his personal account.
Infy Foundation’s help sought
Minister S T Somashekar said he had written a letter to philanthropist and chairperson of Infosys Foundation, Sudha Murty, seeking financial aid for maintenance of the zoo.
In his letter dated May 1, he mentioned that Sudha Murty had made great contributions for IT revolution in the country through education, economic and cultural development. She is helping the economic development of the country by providing employment to lakhs of people through the foundation and the IT company. Hence he requested her for financial support from Infosys Foundation for the upkeep of animals and birds in the zoo which is facing crisis.