All stakeholders to be taken on board over Sukhna eco-zone: Ministers

The draft plan of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary on the Punjab side has been kept on hold by the government until concerns of the related departments and stakeholders were addressed.

This was announced by a panel of three Cabinet ministers who held a public hearing over the proposed alignment of the ESZ here today.

After hearing a large number of residents of Kansal and Karoran villages for nearly one-and-a-half hours, Forest Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, Local Bodies Minister Ravjot Singh and Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian assured the residents that due deliberation would be held before proceeding further.

The proposed draft width of the ESZ, varying from 100 m to 3 km, has to be cleared by the Cabinet. According to the proposal, the width of the ESZ on the Kansal side has been kept at 1 km.

The Forest Minister told The Tribune that detailed discussion would be held with the Local Bodies Department and the Housing Department before proceeding further.

Villagers demanded that the ESZ width should be kept 100 m only and there should be no restriction as regards the existing development master plan of the Nayagoan Municipal Committee.

“Chandigarh has illegally occupied Punjab’s land. If Punjab now allows Sukhna ESZ up to proposed 3 km or even 100 m, it would mean validating the illegal action of the UT,” said Vineet Joshi, chairman of the Nayagaon Ghar Bachao Manch.