MoEF to stick to its 15 May deadline, no more time for states to declare eco-sensitive zones
11 May 2013 2:29 AM GMT
With the extended deadline to the states and UTs for declaration of eco-sensitive zones around national parks and sanctuaries coming to an end on 15 May, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has made it clear it would not extend it for the third time.
The ministry has also claimed to have received a ‘warm response’ to the directions issued by it to the states and UTs for declaration of ‘eco-fragile zones’ around the Protected Areas.
According to ministry officials, a large number of states and Union Territories were responding favourably to their 15 May deadline.
‘We are receiving good number of proposals (for declaration of their eco-sensitive zones) everyday from states and have already got more than 200 responses. Most states have already replied and there are just a few left which we hope shall send their proposals and draft notifications in the ensuing days,’ said deputy inspector general of forests (Wildlife), Vivek Saxena.
Asked about the rule of conservation for states which fail to respond, Saxena said, ‘We are trying our best to motivate them. In case, they fail, the existing norms of treating 10 km buffer zone as the regulated area from the boundaries would be fixed.’
The ministry, in December 2012, had asked the chief wildlife wardens of all states and UTs to declare eco-sensitive zones around national parks and sanctuaries falling in their jurisdictions by 15 February to motivate them to protect such areas.
The ecologically sensitive areas around such protected areas were to be identified by the states and UTs on a case to basis and were to be evaluated on factors like the extent of industrialisation, urbanisation and development around each protected area.
With barely a few states like Punjab, Maharashtra, MP and Himachal Pradesh responding to its request, the ministry further extended the deadline and gave the states three more months to respond. The deadline expires on 15 May. Â
The ministry has also claimed to have received a ‘warm response’ to the directions issued by it to the states and UTs for declaration of ‘eco-fragile zones’ around the Protected Areas.
According to ministry officials, a large number of states and Union Territories were responding favourably to their 15 May deadline.
‘We are receiving good number of proposals (for declaration of their eco-sensitive zones) everyday from states and have already got more than 200 responses. Most states have already replied and there are just a few left which we hope shall send their proposals and draft notifications in the ensuing days,’ said deputy inspector general of forests (Wildlife), Vivek Saxena.
Asked about the rule of conservation for states which fail to respond, Saxena said, ‘We are trying our best to motivate them. In case, they fail, the existing norms of treating 10 km buffer zone as the regulated area from the boundaries would be fixed.’
The ministry, in December 2012, had asked the chief wildlife wardens of all states and UTs to declare eco-sensitive zones around national parks and sanctuaries falling in their jurisdictions by 15 February to motivate them to protect such areas.
The ecologically sensitive areas around such protected areas were to be identified by the states and UTs on a case to basis and were to be evaluated on factors like the extent of industrialisation, urbanisation and development around each protected area.
With barely a few states like Punjab, Maharashtra, MP and Himachal Pradesh responding to its request, the ministry further extended the deadline and gave the states three more months to respond. The deadline expires on 15 May. Â
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