Srinagar- The Government of India has designated three wildlife sanctuaries in Kashmir Valley as ‘eco-sensitive zones’ and has instructed the Union Territory administration to promptly outline their boundaries.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Jammu and Kashmir government has been asked to constitute a committee for monitoring the eco-sensitive zones in the UT.
The monitoring committee shall be headed by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir and will have one expert in ecology and environment, one representative of a non-governmental organization working in the field of environment conservation, an expert in Biodiversity besides deputy commissioners of the various districts.
The MoEFCC notes that keeping in view the rich flora and fauna in the wildlife sanctuaries; the government will protect the areas from human intervention and will immediately demarcate the boundaries of all the wildlife sanctuaries.
They include, Dachigam National Park, Thajwas (Baltal) Wildlife Sanctuary and Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary.
“… the Central Government hereby notifies an area to an extent varying from 200 meters to 13.15 kilometres around the boundary of Dachigam National Park, Thajwas (Baltal) Wildlife Sanctuary and Overa-Aru Wildlife Sanctuary as Eco-sensitive Zone,” reads the notification.
It further says that no new commercial hotels and resorts shall be permitted within one kilometer of the boundary of the protected area or upto the extent of eco-sensitive zone, whichever is nearer, except for small temporary structures for eco-tourism activities.
The government has also asked the UT administration to prepare a Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) within a period of two years in consultation with local people and adhering to the stipulations given in the notification for approval of the competent authority in the Union Territory.
However, the notification says that the ZMP shall not impose any restriction on the approved existing land use, infrastructure and activities, unless so specified in the notification.
“The Zonal Master Plan shall factor in improvement of all infrastructure and activities to be more efficient and eco-friendly,” the notification reads.
It adds that the ZMP will have to demarcate all the existing worshipping places, villages and urban settlements, types and kinds of forests, agricultural areas, fertile lands, green area, such as, parks and like places, horticultural areas, orchards, lakes and other water bodies with supporting maps giving details of existing and proposed land use features.
They also have to regulate development in Eco-sensitive zones and adhere to prohibited and regulated activities to ensure and promote eco-friendly development for security of local communities’ livelihood.
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