The concluding paragraph of the CEC report on recommendingbuffer zones around protected areas tells the tale. It states “ the aboveproposals are submitted in the backdropof inordinate delay that has taken placein the identification and declaration of safety zones around National Parks.Wild Life Sanctuaries and so as to ensure that the process of such declarationsdo not remain pending indefinitely.
Our package above details exactly how the delays took place.
The process of ensuring that there was no further delay to an already delayed ten year lag dates way back to February 92011 when the DIG Wild LIFe of the M OEF Prakriti Srivastava wrote to theStates and Union territories saying that the Centre had decided to frameguidelines to facilitate thedeclaration of eco sensitive zonesaround parks and sanctuaries. The guidelines included statutory provisions,purpose, extent of eco sensitive zones and the procedure to be adopted. Forthis states were supposed to formulate a committee to suggest the following
a) Extent ofeco sensitive zones
b) Requirement of such a zone to act as a shock absorber
c) Suggestbest methods for management
d) Suggestthematic activities to be included in the master plan of the region
However, seeing the delay, the Supreme Court stepped in toform the committee. According to officials in the department of forests, thecurrent recommendations are a best case scenario considering the fact that Goawas battling with pressure from the wild life and environment activist lobby toensure a ten kilometre buffer zone. The previous government had gone to theother extent of recommending a zerokilometer buffer zone.
Too much time hasbeen lost. The department of Forests, the Chief Wild Life Warden under theleadership of the Chief Minister should study the report of its internal committee and submit its own final recommendations.
What will be Goa’s Buffer Zone?
Disclaimer: It needs to be checked if any two or more protected areas are contiguous, if so, the combined buffer zone of all parks could change to two kms. Source: Section 12 of CEC report
National Park / Wildlife Sanctuary | Notified On | Area (sq. km) | Safe Zone Category |
| Bhagwan Mahavir, Molem (NP) | April 13, 1978 | 1,07.000 | C (500 metres) |
| Bondla (WLS) | March 22, 1969 | 7.950 | D (100 metres) |
| Dr. Salim Ali, Chorao (WLS) | March 16, 1988 | 1.780 | D |
| Cotigao (WLS) | January 18, 1968 | 85.650 | D |
| Mhadei (WLS) | May 31, 1999 | 208.480 | B ( 1 km) |
| Bhagwan Mahavir (WLS) | December 23, 1967 | 133.000 | C (500 metres) |
| Netravali (WLS) | May 31, 1999 | 211.050 | B |
