Sukhna wildlife sanctuary: Haryana cancels its environment clearance for 10-km radius

Panchkula, April 12

The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), Haryana, has cancelled the environment clearance within 10-km radius of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.

The decision is likely to affect the construction activity in the newly developed Sectors 27, 28, 30, DLF of Mansa Devi Complex, Pinjore, Amravati Enclave, many societies of Sector 20 of Panchkula and Peer Muchalla.

SEIAA chairman Sameer Pal Srow, in his order, stated that the sanctuary had been damaged due to construction in the area within its 10-km radius.

A complaint was given by some people of Amravati Enclave to the SEIAA regarding environmental clearance, the hearing of which was going on for a long time.

Srow cancelled the environment clearance while considering the area within 10-km radius of the sanctuary as a threat.

The SEIAA is an arm of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for the implementation of an environment impact assessment notification at the state level. It considers environment clearance for all proposals.

Most of the 10-km area falling in Panchkula has been developed, due to which meetings had been held at the administrative level in which officials had stated that the construction should be allowed at least outside 300 metres around the sanctuary. In this regard, a committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Panchkula had also sent a proposal to the government.

Now, a committee has been constituted by the SEIAA to identify the eco-sensitive zone. The committee would inspect the area around the sanctuary and identify the zone, after which further action will be taken. After the committee presents its report, the matter will go to the National Green Tribunal.

It is pertinent to mention here that in 2017, a proposal was also sent to the Central Government to notify one-and-a-half-km area around the sanctuary as eco-sensitive zone, on which Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana had agreed.