The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has reiterated its request to the states to declare 10 km area around the national park and sanctuaries as eco-sensitive zones (ESZs). Prakriti Srivastava, deputy inspector general (wildlife) in the MoEF, has issued fresh guidelines on February 9, 2011, to all the chief wildlife wardens and PCCFs reminding them about the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) decision of March 17, 2005, on delineation of eco-sensitive zones. There is also a Supreme Court order dated December 4, 2006, on eco-sensitive zones. The apex court had directed the MoEF to give a final opportunity to the states to respond to the NBWL decision in four weeks. However, only a few states like Haryana, Gujarat, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam and Goa forwarded ESZ proposals. Fear of activities like mining being banned is keeping Maharashtra from notifying ESZs. Many coal mines are proposed near Tadoba tiger reserve. In Maharashtra, after court orders, ex-PCCF B Majumdar had sent proposals for declaring ESZs around 41 PAs. The first proposal was of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Borivali, but it was rejected looking into the cluster of buildings and apartments that have come up near the park.
Of the remaining 40 PAs, Great India Bustard (GIB) sanctuary in Solapur and Tungareshwar was not recommended for ESZ due to similar problems. Proposals for ESZs around 38 sanctuaries have been referred back by the government. On May 17, 2008, state had asked respective district collectors to seek views of stakeholders on ESZs. Collectors of Chandrapur and Gondia had given their consent for declaring area around Tadoba (Chandrapur) and Nagzira and Navegaon (Gondia) as ESZs. A K Joshi, head of forest force, says even if ESZs have not been declared, much is being done to protect fragile habitats. The state government has already declared buffer zones for three tiger reserves in Vidarbha. Considering constraints communicated by the states, the proposal was re-examined by the NBWL on March 17, 2005, and it was decided that the 'delineation of eco-sensitive zones'would have to be site specific and relate to regulation, rather than prohibition, of specific activities.
Many existing PAs have already seen tremendous development close to their boundaries. The best example is of Adani power plant near Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and widening of NH6 by the NHAI near Navegaon National Park, both in Gondia district. Fresh guidelines prescribe that where sensitive corridors, connectivity and ecologically important patches, crucial for landscape linkage, are beyond 10 kms range, even then they should be included in the ESZs.
"The eco-sensitive zones are meant to act as a 'shock absorbers' and 'transition zone' to the PAs by regulating and managing the activities around the parks and hence should be declared ESZs," said conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar. The MoEF has suggested the states to form a committee comprising chief wildlife warden, an ecologist, an official from the local self government and an official of the revenue department of the area concerned. They have also been asked to convey a strong message to the public that ESZs are not meant to hamper their day-to-day activities, but instead, are meant to protect forests and PAs from any negative impact, and also to refine the environment around the PAs.
Of the remaining 40 PAs, Great India Bustard (GIB) sanctuary in Solapur and Tungareshwar was not recommended for ESZ due to similar problems. Proposals for ESZs around 38 sanctuaries have been referred back by the government. On May 17, 2008, state had asked respective district collectors to seek views of stakeholders on ESZs. Collectors of Chandrapur and Gondia had given their consent for declaring area around Tadoba (Chandrapur) and Nagzira and Navegaon (Gondia) as ESZs. A K Joshi, head of forest force, says even if ESZs have not been declared, much is being done to protect fragile habitats. The state government has already declared buffer zones for three tiger reserves in Vidarbha. Considering constraints communicated by the states, the proposal was re-examined by the NBWL on March 17, 2005, and it was decided that the 'delineation of eco-sensitive zones'would have to be site specific and relate to regulation, rather than prohibition, of specific activities.
Many existing PAs have already seen tremendous development close to their boundaries. The best example is of Adani power plant near Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary and widening of NH6 by the NHAI near Navegaon National Park, both in Gondia district. Fresh guidelines prescribe that where sensitive corridors, connectivity and ecologically important patches, crucial for landscape linkage, are beyond 10 kms range, even then they should be included in the ESZs.
"The eco-sensitive zones are meant to act as a 'shock absorbers' and 'transition zone' to the PAs by regulating and managing the activities around the parks and hence should be declared ESZs," said conservationist Prafulla Bhamburkar. The MoEF has suggested the states to form a committee comprising chief wildlife warden, an ecologist, an official from the local self government and an official of the revenue department of the area concerned. They have also been asked to convey a strong message to the public that ESZs are not meant to hamper their day-to-day activities, but instead, are meant to protect forests and PAs from any negative impact, and also to refine the environment around the PAs.
0 comments:
Post a Comment