In a move expected to boost organic farming and rainwaterharvesting in the long run and curb illegal activities in and around protectedforests, the union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has set a finaldeadline for the states to declare eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) under allnational parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
In a letter to state chief secretaries, environmentsecretary V Rajagopalan has sought proposals for declaring eco-sensitive zoneslatest by February 15 as a last opportunity to submit their report. Theministry has told the states that any commercial activity within 10 squarekilometres of 650 national parks and sanctuaries will be discontinued if theyfail to notify ecologically sensitive areas by then.
The declaration would not affect either people’s everydayactivities or agriculture in the region. Rather, organic farming, rainwaterharvesting and other eco-friendly activities would get a boost. However, miningactivities, quarrying, industries, hotels, saw mills and hydro-electricitygeneration units are not allowed in a radius of 10 km of national parks andwildlife sanctuaries.
The Wildlife Conservation Strategy-2002, adopted by theIndian Board for Wildlife, envisaged declaring land within 10 km of theboundary of national parks and sanctuaries as eco-fragile zones for the safetyof animals. However, even after repeated request by the environment ministry,only a few states have identified eco-sensitive areas around the sanctuaries.
In the fresh set of directions issued to the states, theMoEF has observed that progress on declaration of eco-sensitive zones has beenfar from satisfactory in the states. There is a need to create ESZs aroundnational parks and wildlife sanctuaries to conserve wildlife, reduce man-animalconflict and to improve socio-economic conditions of people living aroundeco-sensitive zones. The bigger requirement is to create awareness among localsregarding these zones.
Despite a Supreme Court ruling stating that a radius of 10km should be declared as eco-sensitive zone around national parks and wildlifesanctuaries, only Haryana, Gujarat, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Assam and Goa hadcomplied with the apex court order.
