Government to notify more than 60 eco-sensitive zones this year

"We are trying to do as much as possible provided we get clear proposals from the states. We will notify more than 60 (eco-sensitive zones) this year," a senior Environment Ministry official said.

Last year, around 40 sanctuaries and national parks were notified as 'eco-sensitive zones'. There are over 600 sanctuaries and national parks in the country, the official added. The government is declaring land falling within 10-km radius of the boundaries of national parks and sanctuaries as 'eco-fragile zones' as part of the action plan envisaged in the 'Wildlife Conservation Strategy', which was adopted in 2002.

The purpose is to provide better sanctity to protected areas and check the adverse impact of unplanned development in and around such areas. Recently, the Environment Ministry had sought people's views on the draft notification for declaring areas around two wildlife sanctuaries — in Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Pranahita in Telangana — as 'eco-sensitive zones'.