Devaliya lion safari park to be pollution-free

12-04-2012
Devaliya lion safari park to be pollution-free
Times of India By Vijaysinh Parmar
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Devaliya-lion-safari-park-to-be-pollution-free/articleshow/12628485.cms

Devaliya lion safari park, 12 km away from Sasan-Gir, is all set to go for 100 per cent pollution-free. The forest department has decided to use biodiesel made from jatropha to run all tourists vehicles used to take tourists for lions' sighting in the park

"Earlier, we began running few vehicles using biodiesel for the safari. Now, we have decided to run all tourists vehicles (25 passengers' capacity bus) on this fuel. This decision has been taken to make tourist vehicles pollution free," chief conservator of forests (wildlife division), Junagadh, R L Meena said.

Biodiesel is more environment-friendly than other fossil fuel. "We want minimum air and noise pollution in the park," Meena said.

Devaliya Park hosts Asiatic lions in a closed, but natural environment along with many other animals. The park gives tourists an actual feeling of wilderness.

The forest department has ordered 12,000 litres for biodiesel from Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI) in Bhavnagar.

"Biodiesel helps immensely in reducing carbon emission. We want to promote this fuel so that it can be used on a larger scale. The biodiesel prepared by CSMCRI is a proven technology. We wish that other forest departments in the country are also able to adopt this model,'' director, CSMCRI, P K Ghosh said.

CSMCRI officials said they charge Rs 75 per litre on the basis of not-for-profit purpose and to promote the use of biodiesel as an environment-friendly fuel option.