The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF) has issued a fresh draft notification, nearly two and half years following the initial one regarding Bannerghatta National Park (BNP). The preceding draft had proposed an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) spanning 268.96 sq.km. However, the new proposal sees this area significantly reduced to 169 sq.km. This reduction could have various implications, particularly concerning potential mining activities and commercial development in areas around the rapidly urbanizing city of Bengaluru.
Implications of ESZ Reduction
Those areas that have experienced a considerable reduction in ESZ are either currently being mined or are future potential mining sites. Another sector poised to gain from this reduction is real estate. Land previously under environmental constraints, especially along highways in close proximity to BNP, has been released, paving the way for potential development.
About Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs)
Notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Government of India, ESZs are ecologically fragile regions located around protected areas such as National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. These zones follow the guidelines set by the Environmental (Protection Act) of 1986. Consequently, pollutant industries or mines are not permitted within these areas. The stipulated width of an eco-sensitive zone can extend up to 10 km from a protected area. However, this can be extended beyond 10 km in case of ecologically important locations that require landscape connectivity.
Prohibited Activities in ESZs
In line with the guidelines, certain industries are prohibited from operating within these zones. Such restrictions extend to activities, including commercial mining, large-scale hydropower projects, and commercial utilization of firewood. Activities like tree felling, commercial use of natural water resources such as groundwater harvesting, as well as establishing hotels and resorts, are also heavily regulated within these zones. The primary aim is to minimize the adverse effects of such activities on the fragile ecosystem that surrounds protected areas.
Significance of ESZs
The escalation of activities like industrialization, urbanization, and other developmental tasks can cause changes in the landscape, potentially leading to natural disasters like earthquakes, flash floods, landslides, cloudbursts, etc. To safeguard certain unique regions/areas rich in unique plants, animals, terrains, the government has declared them as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, etc. Furthermore, to alleviate the impact of urbanization and other developmental activities, areas around such protected regions have been declared as ESZs.
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| National Wildlife Action Plan (NWAP) | The NWAP 2017-2031 aims to protect areas outside the protected area network to prevent the destruction of biodiversity fragments. |
| ESZs as ‘Shock Absorbers’ | ESZs serve as ‘shock absorbers’ to the protected area and act as a transition zone from highly protected regions to those with lesser protection. |
| Need for ESZ Protection | With high-paced developmental initiatives in fragile ecosystems, protecting ESZs is of paramount importance. A balanced, rational developmental approach is the need of the hour. |
Bannerghatta National Park
The Bannerghatta National Park, located near Bangalore in Karnataka, is home to a host of wildlife species including elephants, gaur, leopard, jackal, fox, wild boar, sloth bear, Sambar, Chital, spotted deer, barking deer, common langur, bonnet macaque, porcupine, and hares. The Bannerghatta Biological Park, integral to the National Park, emerged as an independent entity in 2002. This division was made to satisfy the rising demand for eco-recreation, eco-tourism, and conservation, detaching some forest areas from the National park to form the Biological Park. Today, Bannerghatta Biological Park stands as one of the few spots worldwide where wilderness is maintained so close to a large city. It comprises different units such as a zoo, safari, butterfly park, and a rescue center focused on the conservation of captive animals.
