Monday, March 23, 2015

Tamil Nadu setting up Chennai Oceanarium Complex on 15 acres of land in Mahabalipuram

C Shivakumar/ ENS

Chennai:
If you’d like to take a walk under the sea, wave at a dolphin as it swims by or even get to check a shark out up close, without knowing how to swim - here’s good news.


Tamil Nadu government is setting up an Chennai Oceanarium Complex in
the 15 acres of land in Mahabalipuram under public private partnership
mode.


The meticulously created SeaWorld is likely to have thousands of
marine species, collected from the Ocean, moving amidst corals and
reef just like they live in Ocean for all to see.



The creation will include an artificial ocean enabling people to walk
under the water through an acrylic tunnel, directly experiencing the
unique wonders available at the bottom of the ocean, without getting
wet.



The Oceanarium apart from its commercial and educational supremacy
will have alliances with the Universities and Marine Biology Research
Centers to undertake marine biological research projects in
collaboration with similar reputed centers around the world, Fisheries
department sources said.



Sources said that the viewing of marine life has almost been
exclusively confined to Oceanariums, in which viewers circulate around
the edges of the tank looking through windows.



But the proposed Oceanarium concept is a revolutionary one which would
provide people a fascinating tour with views in all directions. The
tunnel creates an impression

of walking on the seabed and the visitor becomes part of the marine
environment. It provides visitors of all ages with entertainment,
enjoyment and education.



Each facility will have a number of entertainment and educational
attractions, which transform short visits in to memorable occasions.



The oceanarium would have strategic and suitable displays, exhibits,
touch pools; Oceanarium, dangerous creatures and marine artifacts
which will entice the visitor through the pre-determined route on the
journey to the main Oceanarium tank of thousands of marine animals and
plants with its

submerged acrylic tunnel.



Interestingly, the fisheries department is planning the oceanarium in
such a way that the project will abide by Coastal Regulation Zone
laws.



“Of the 15 acres of land, seven acres fall in Coastal Regulation Zone
1,” the source said. As per Coastal Regulation Zone Act, civil
construction cannot be taken upto 200m from high tide line of Ocean



“It is proposed to use only eight acres for construction and the
balance seven acres would be used for the purpose for which no
construction is required,” the source added.



The seven acres would be used for fish stocking, game stocking, game
fishing , laser show, amphi theatre, Turtle Park that do not require
civil construction above ground.



Under the eight acres of land, which falls under CRZ III, the plan is
to build a ground plus first floor oceanarium.



Factfile:

Total cost: Rs 250 crore

Indoor facilities:

Aquarium Tunnel Length: Minimum of 150m

-- Non-acrylic tunnel: 25m+25m

Acrylic tunnel: 100m with 270° and 360° viewing and 100m moving walkway minimum.

-- Provision for swimming with shark, scuba diving and feeding and
other veterinary activities.

-- Big Souvenir Shop-2

--- Special Effect Multimedia Theater with 300 seating capacity for
showing wonders of Ocean and other marine based educational movies.

--- Educational Class room of 100 seating capacity with provision to
have Audio Visual Show

-- Cafeteria in two or three places

-- Underwater Restaurant with 60 seating capacity

-- Underwater Accommodation

-- Community Center for seminar and symposia and other social and
commercial functions with 1000 seating capacity

-- Food Court including seafood courts



In the outdoor area:

-- Seal Stadium with 2000 seating capacity and its support facilities

-- Penguin Park with 50 birds and its support facilities

--- Cultural food court

-- Musical fountain



In seven acres of land:

❖ Fish Stocking and Seasoning Tanks

❖ Game Fishing Tanks

❖ Lazar show

❖ Amphi Theatre

❖ Turtle Park

❖ All Terrain Scooter and Car

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