Punjab readies Sukhna eco plan

The Punjab Forest Department has proposed to set up an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) falling within 1 km to 3 km around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. The department will conduct an aerial survey to digitally define its boundary.

Issue mired in controversy

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• A few years ago, there was a dispute between Punjab and Chandigarh over an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Sukhna
• Punjab wanted to declare area within just 100 m of the sanctuary as an ESZ to ‘facilitate’ Tata Camelot project in Kansal
• In 2019, the project was struck down by the SC, citing interests of 95 Punjab MLAs who were to get flats in the housing scheme

Though some farm houses of influential persons would fall in the proposed ESZ, the aerial survey would enable the department know the precise status of construction activity in areas under the zone. A draft of the proposal to notify the ESZ has been sent to the state Cabinet for approval, said a senior government functionary.

Earlier, the state had proposed to demarcate just 100 m around the sanctuary as an ESZ, but the Union Environment Ministry had rejected the proposal after the Chandigarh Administration raised an objection, citing inadequate coverage.

The UT Forest and Wildlife Department, which has declared an area within 2 km to 2.75 km from the sanctuary as an ESZ, had sought similar zones from Haryana and Punjab. While Haryana has already notified an ESZ ranging between 1 km and 2.035 km on its side in Panchkula district, Punjab is yet to do so.

Punjab has now decided to increase the demarcated area and seek an approval from the Centre. Officials said 90 per cent of the sanctuary area fell in Haryana and Punjab.

In June 2022, the SC had ruled that each national park must have an ESZ of a minimum of 1 km measured from its demarcated boundary. The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary is home to seven Schedule I animal species under the Wildlife Act. These include leopard, Indian pangolin, sambar, golden jackal, cobra, python and monitor lizard.