Govt bans development projects in default buffer zones around forests

The Central Government’s wildlife panel has said unless states notify eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) around national parks and tiger reserves, the Union Government will not clear any developmental projects, including mining or road construction, falling close to forests.

The ESZ around the national parks and tiger reserves provide a buffer to the forests so that wildlife habitat remains undisturbed. In the absence of notification of ESZ, a default area of 10 km from the boundary of the forest will be considered as a buffer zone.

The permission for Kerala’s granite quarrying was deferred by the Centre on the grounds that it fell in proximity to Parambikulam Tiger Reserve and Anamalai Tiger Reserve and the Kerala Government had not marked their ESZs that would disturb the habitat of the tigers.

“The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife has decided to defer the project proposal until the state government submits a complete proposal for declaration of an ESZ around Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. Furthermore, the standing committee also decided that the projects proposed inside default ESZ around national parks and sanctuaries shall not be considered unless complete proposals for declaration of ESZ is submitted by the concerned state/UT governments to the Environment Ministry,” wildlife panel report said.

Special Secretary, Union Environment Ministry, Tanmay Kumar said, “Wherever the ESZ is not finally notified, the zone would be default 10 km. In such cases, the mining proposals should not be recommended.” Senior officials in the ministry say a meeting was held with all states to review the status of proposals of declaration of ESZ around national parks. They were requested to expedite the submission of the proposals and essential information sought by the ministry.