Entering the Lucknow Zoo in northern India with a polythene bag will not be possible from now onwards. The place has been made a no-polythene zone. Instead of plastic bags, jute bags will be made available at zoo gates for a charge of Rs 70.

"We already provide paper bags to people, but there are few visitors who come with so many things that paper bags are not sufficient," said Renu Singh, zoo director. The jute bags are big enough to carry lot of things. People can always take their polythene bags back after submitting the refund coupon and returning the jute bag to the zoo staff. The refund coupons can be taken from zoo gates. On Tuesday, at least 94 such coupons were sold.

Plastic and polythene had always been a big menace inside zoo. Two zoo inmates, a hippo and a sambar deer had died after they swallowed plastic. "Hippo's post-mortem had shown undigested polythene in his stomach," said an old keeper. Later, a sambar deer too died the same painful death. Entering premises with a polythene bag was banned immediately after hippo's death. Though the plan was not successful.

"We have now also written to the district magistrate and nagar ayukta seeking their help," said director. The zoo authorities have requested district administration to make at least 100 metres area around zoo as a no-polythene zone. The zoo already has a refund coupon facility for plastic bottles. Visitors are required to buy a refund coupon of Rs 20 to carry water bottle inside zoo.

The visitors can claim their money back only when they deposit the bottles at ticket counters at the time of leaving. In case people still enter zoo with plastic bottle and polythene bags, they would be fined. Under section 38(J) of Wildlife Protection Act, littering the place or teasing animals can make one undergo an imprisonment of six months or shell out Rs 2,000 as fine or both.

A lot of shops outside the zoo sell snacks in polythene bags and wrappers outside its gates. When asked how will such shops be checked from using polythene bags, the director said, "It is for the same reason that we have sought help from the district administration."

(Source: Lucknow zoo is no-plastic zone [Times of India])