ECO Sensitive Zones
needs Special Care
In order to preserve certain regions/areas bestowed
with unique plants, animals, terrains Government has declared them as national
parks, wildlife sanctuaries, etc,. Further, to minimise the impact of
urbanisation and other developmental activities, areas adjacent to such
protected areas have been declared as Eco-Sensitive Zones.
The National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) 2002-2016
endeavours to protect areas outside the protected area network to prevent
isolation/destruction of fragments of bio-diversity. However, eco-sensitive zones are
delineated to regulate specific activities on site specific basis. The
Environment (protection) Rules, 1986 states that the Central Government can
prohibit and restrict the location of industries and carrying on certain
operations or processes on the basis of considerations like biological diversity
of an area, maximum allowable limits of concentration of pollutants in an area,
environmentally compatible land use and proximity to protected areas.
The purpose of declaring eco-sensitive zones around
protected areas is for creating some kind of ‘Shock Absorber’ to the protected
area. They would also act as a transition zone from areas of high protection to
areas involving lesser protection. The width of eco-sensitive zone and type of
regulation vary from one area to another. However, as a general principle width
of eco-sensitive zone could go up to 10 kms around a
protected area. In case of places with sensitive corridors, connectivity and
ecologically important patches, crucial for landscape linkage, even area beyond
10 kms width can also be included in the
eco-sensitive zone.
The State Governments should emphasise the fact to the
public that eco-sensitive zones are not meant to hamper their day-to-day
activities, but instead, is meant to protect the precious forests/areas in
their locality from any negative impact and also to refine the environment
around such protected areas. While some of the activities could be allowed in
all the eco-sensitive areas, others will be regulated or prohibited. However,
which activity can be regulated or prohibited and to what extent will have to
be area specific. For instance, activities which fall under the prohibited
category include commercial mining, setting up of saw mills, setting up of
industries causing pollution, establishment of major hydro electric projects,
discharge of effluent and solid waste into natural water bodies or areas, use
or production of any hazardous substances,etc.Similarly, activities like
felling of tress, establishment of hotels and resorts, widening of roads,
protection of river banks and hill slopes,etc comes under regulated category.
A Zonal Master
Plan for the eco-sensitive zone has to be prepared by the State Government
within a period of one year from the date of approval by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests, Government of India. The zonal master plan should
provide for restoration of denuded areas, conservation of existing water
bodies, management of catchment areas, soil and moisture conservation, needs of
local community, etc, which needs
attention. It should also demarcate all
the existing and proposed urban settlements, village settlements, types and
kinds of forest, agricultural areas, green areas, horticultural areas, lakes,
etc,. No change of land use from green uses shall be permitted in the zonal master plan except limited conversion
of agricultural lands to meet the residential needs of the existing local
residents, improvement of roads and bridges, community buildings, without the
prior approval of the state government. Pending preparation of the master plan
and approval thereof by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, all new
constructions can be allowed only after it is approved by the Monitoring
Committee constituted by the Central Government.
Protection of eco-sensitive zones has assumed
importance in view of the overzealous developmental initiatives in fragile eco
systems. A balanced, rational developmental approach is the need of the hour.
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