Only three of 11 proposed protected areas notified

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 26

Of the 11 proposed protected areas (PAs) of the state, only three have been notified as eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) by the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC). The remaining ones are either still stuck with the state government or the Centre.

Sources said in February 2008, the Ministry of Environment and Forests (wildlife division) had directed all states to forward the site-specific proposals for the declaration of ESZ around national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and PAs. Under the ESZ norms, commercial mining and all other infrastructure development-related activities are banned.

“In both Centre and the state, there have been BJP-run governments since 2014. Had the authorities taken the issue of getting PA declared as ESZs seriously, it would have been done earlier. But the proposals are still stuck at various level, which shows the non-seriousness of the authorities,” said a source.

In Haryana, there are proposals for 11 ESZ for PAs. It include Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary in Panchkula, Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon, Kalesar National Park and Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yamunanagar, Khol-Hi-Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary in Panchkula, Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary and Khaparwas Wildlife Sanctuary in Jhajjar, Nahar Wildlife Sanctuary in Rewari, Chilchhila Wildlife Sanctuary in Kurukshetra, Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary in Chandigarh and Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary in Delhi (100-1,000 meters in Faridabad and up to 100 m in Gurgaon).

Of these, merely three — one of Gurgaon and two of Yamunangar — have been notified. Out of the remaining eight, proposals for seven have been submitted to the MOEFCC. The proposal for Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary in Panchkula is still lying with the state government for approval.

“It’s a lengthy process and will take some time. We are trying to get other PAs notified as ESZs,” Dr Amrinder Kaur, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, said.