Harsha Bhatnagar■ harsha.bhatnagar@hindustantimes.com

Athletic achievementsmay not be its forte, butthe National ZoologicalPark of Delhi or simply

Delhi Zoo is trying hard topitch in to the Capital’s spruceup plans ahead of theCommonwealth Games.The Tigers’ enclosure at

the Zoo, where the six RoyalBengal tigers of the zoo roam,is all set for a revamp with theexisting 10 feet waterfallbeing extended by another 15feet, and decorated withwhite stones for a morenatural effect.

Beautification“The work will start any daynow. And the waterfall will bejoined with the small neher(channel) to give it a goodvisual. It will be nice for thetigers too as they love toswim in water,” confirmsAnand Krishna, JointDirector of the Zoo.The zoo authority is

making some additionalwater arrangements for this,as the zoo is facing a severewater crisis.Geeta B, a young entrepre-

neur, who often brings herchildren Vanshika andKeshav to the zoo, points out,

“Surely it is a nice idea, butthis should have been doneduring the summers, keepingthe needs of the tigers inmind as well. Throughout

summer, the neher has beennearly dry.”Chitrangada Joshi, a

creative writer says, “Myonly concern is that the

authorities should maintainthe waterfall post theCommonwealth Games(CWG). That is where thetest lies. It’s easy to beautify

things, but difficult to main-tain them. I hope the authori-ties have a mechanism thatwill not only keep the waterclean during the time ofCWG, but also later.”

Souvenir for visitorsZoos in cities and countriesabroad such as Seoul, SanDiego, Singapore, Salzburghave a zoo souvenir shopthat stock items such as:t-shirts, hats, soft toys, keychains for visitors to takeback with them.The Delhi Zoo is also plan-ning one on similar lines.The authorities are lookingout for toy-makingcompanies that would makezoo animal replicas.“We have six Bengal tigers

and 13 white tigers. They arethe pride of our zoo andShera is the official mascotof the 19th CommonwealthGames. So, the tigers will bethe best souvenirs apart fromthe lion-tailed macaque, redjungle fowls, baboons,hippopotamus and giraffe,”says Krishna.” “The souvenirshop will also have T-shirts,caps, books on Delhi Zoo ani-mals and more,” he adds.Spread over a sprawling

176 acres of land, the Delhizoo gets an average of 19 lakhvisitors every year.

New Delhi, Monday June 14, 2010

my citydidyouknow?The discothequeat the Oberoi hotel in the 1970s was called Tabela 09

METROPOLITAN

Dear diary,Yesterday evening, when I waswalking back from work I washeld by the sight of a pigeonlying on the other side of theroad. The pigeon apparentlyseemed thirsty and in need ofhelp. Just as I was about toapproach the hapless creature,a young girl, barely 6 or 7-year-old emerged beside it and liftedthe pigeon in her hands. Sheheld it in one hand, while carry-ing a leaking polythene bag,containing water in the other.She sprinkled some on thepigeon, while the rest shehelped it drink. Tatteredclothes, soiled hair, andbarefeet, she was a picture ofmagnanimity in destitution.Touched by her selfless act, Ifelt belittled by that little girl.For the remaining part of theday, I kept on thinking of herface shining as a bright spoton humanity. Guneet Kaur

Dear diary,There is a girl who lives in thebuilding next to my apartment.Most of the times the curtainsof her house are apart and youcan see whatever is goinginside. I know I should mind myown business and not peepinside her house. I think sherealised that I look into herhouse so she came down to myapartment and called me fromthe intercom. Once I picked upthe phone she abused me right,left and center and told me thatnext time she catches me look-ing inside her window or eventowards the building she willget me arrested! I was soscared after the incident that Iensured the curtains of myhouse were always drawn.

Abhijeeet

Hello diary,I have been commuting byMetro for the past one year.

But strangely, off late, I havenoticed that the people of Delhiare changing for good. I seepeople offering seat to ladiesand senior people. A few daysago, I saw an Iranian tourist getinto the Metro with his youngdaughter at Rajiv Chowk. Theycouldn’t find place to sit. So aguy next to me and I instinc-tively got up and offered them aseat. They were flattered bythe gesture and couldn’t stoppraising the people of Delhi,and their hospitality. At thatmoment, I really felt proud ofmyself and my city, with whichI am in love with. This city justrocks and people do need anapplause.

Amitoj Singh

Tell us your recent ‘Delhi’experiences — the wonderful,the funny and the ugly. Writein to us at: htcitymetropolitan-diary@gmail.com

Mail your or yourbuddy’s pic (withname, collegeand phone num-ber) in anythingstylish tohtfashionista@gmail.com

CAMPUSFASHIONISTA

Your photographs, yourfriends, your campus,your adda

Manvi Sachdeva ofJIMS goes in forlayering of spaghetti topto beat the heat in style

Shaivya Lamba’s of IP universityin a sexy one shoulder dress

Sahil Guptaof JIMSwears a coolsports jerseyperfect forthe FIFAseason

(L) AdityaVerma ofNIEC beatsthe harshsunlight bywearingaviatorglasses

Mirandian Bhavna sportsmilitary print shorts

WILD ANDWATER FULLAuthorities are all set to give the Delhi Zoo a facelift before Commonwealth Games

DIARY

Who says size doesn’tmatter? It definitely mat-ters to this phirni (milkdessert) seller who wasseen wearing this humon-gous ring with semi pre-cious stones on his finger.Spotted in Matia MahalBazaar. Only in Delhi!

PHOTO: ZABEEH AFAQUE

PHOTOS: MANOJ VERMA

PHOTO: JASJEET PLAHA

Yeh Dilli hai!WHATMAKESDELHI DISTINCT

Hi,I am new and single inDelhi. Looking for asmart and cute girl-

friend here. Anyonewho thinks they arethese things I want,should get in touchwith me.

— RashidDangur,U dont know howmuch I luv u and that

to more than mylyf and m nt flirtingwid u... Pata nahi kyaho gya mujhe kyuchnge ho gyi maintumhare liye ab darrlagta hai tum durr nachale jao kahi.

—Soni billi

Mommy,I dont know if this willprint or not...but stillam conveying thisobvious message..Ilove u..love u love ulove u.......oh..did Imention I love u...:)—Ur daughterSanjana

Dil Se

htcity.desimartini.comgo to or dilsehtcity@gmail.com to leave your message

The new enclosure with waterfall (above); The tigers are kept in these cages when not in the enclosure

AnkitMadaan of IP

Universityflaunts a cool

arm band