Haryana Proposes Fresh Delineation of Eco-Sensitive Zone

• 12 Mar 2024

Why in News?

Recently, the Haryana government has proposed that an area of 1,000 metres around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary on the Haryana side be delineated as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).

Key Points

• The proposal was sent in January 2024 to the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) for issuing a final notification delineating the eco-sensitive zone on the Haryana side.
• The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over 25.98 square km (about 6420 acres), is under the administrative control of union territory of Chandigarh and shares its boundaries with Haryana and Punjab.
  • The protected area, being rich with diverse flora and fauna, contains a variety of topographical features and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1988 by the Chandigarh administration.
• As per the draft proposal sent to the MoEFCC:
  • The total area of the proposed eco-sensitive zone will be 2,460 hectares (about 6,078 acres).
  • 10 villages - Prempura, Sukhomajri, Damala, Lohgarh, Manakpur Thakardas, Surajpur, Chandimandir Kotla, Darra Kharauni, Rampur and Saketri/Mahadevpur fall within the proposed ESZ.
  • The state government has proposed to divide the ESZ into four zones:
    • The extent of zone 1 will be 100 meters from the boundary of Sukhna wildlife sanctuary.
    • Zone 2 will be 100 metres to 300 metres from the boundary of the protected area.
    • Zone 3 will comprise of area falling in 300-700 metres from the boundary of the protected area.
    • The rest of the area that is 700 to 1,000 metres from the boundary in the protected area shall be in zone 4.
  • All activities other than the activities prescribed for conservation and protection of its habitat are prohibited.
  • Eco-sensitive zones act as shock absorbers and insulate the protected area from the likely adverse impact of the activities in the adjacent areas.
• In the revised draft the state government has also incorporated the suggestions of Wildlife Institute of India that the eco-sensitive zone be extended till the reserve forest boundary.

Eco Sensitive Zones

• The National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) stipulated that state governments should declare land falling within 10 km of the boundaries of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as eco-fragile zones or Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) under the Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.
• While the 10-km rule is implemented as a general principle, the extent of its application can vary. Areas beyond 10 km can also be notified by the Union government as ESZs, if they hold larger ecologically important “sensitive corridors”.

Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary

• It is located in Chandigarh.
• It forms the part of Sukhna Lake catchment area falling in Shivalik hills.
• Fauna: Sambar deer, Barking deer, and wild boar, as well as several species of birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
• Flora: The sanctuary is characterized by a mix of forests, grasslands, and wetlands, with the Sukhna Lake forming an important part of the ecosystem.