Source: Times of India
The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has eclared an eco-sensitive zone around the Asola Bhatti wildlife sanctuary in Gurugramand Faridabad. The buffer zone varies from 100 metres to one km around the boundary.
The ministry’s May 31 notification prohibits construction or industrial activities in the sensitive zone, while also directing the Haryana government to prepare a zonal action plan within two years on how to regulate activities there. The notification follows a 2011 Supreme Court order that directed all states to declare such buffer zones. Asola Bhatti sanctuary is located in the south-eastern part of the southern Ridge of Delhi. In September 2017, MoEF had notified a 15.55 sq km area in the Delhi stretch as an eco-sensitive zone.
The zonal plan to be drawn up by Haryana will include steps for groundwater management, soil and moisture conservation, and demarcate existing places of worship, villages and urban settlements. It, however, cannot impose any restriction on approved and existing land use, infrastructureand activities. Activities like setting up of industries, commercial mining, establishment of waste disposal sites or poultry farms will be prohibited, while activities like eco-tourism and introduction of exotic species will be regulated.
Whole Aravali region needs eco tag: Experts
The surrounding area toward the Haryana side of the sanctuary is an ecologically important area with reference to the floral and faunal value of the oldest mountain range of India (Aravalis)… It is the only protected (wildlife sanctuary) area of the national capital territory of Delhi and is at the fag-end of an important wildlife corridor which starts from Sariska National Park of Alwar district in Rajasthan and after passing through Mewat, Gurugramand Faridabad districts of Haryana ends at the sanctuary,” the MoEF notification dated May 31 states.
The sanctuary has 83 species of trees, 30 of shrubs, 95 species of herbs and about 18 species of grasses. Various important animal species like leopard, jackal, striped hyena, jungle cat, small Indian civet, common mongoose, Indian porcupine, nilgai, rhesus monkey and hare, among others, are found in this area.
“(Apart from) around 200 species of resident and migratory birds; the faunal diversity is represented by 17 species of mammals, 12 species of reptiles, five species of amphibians, 63 species of butterflies and five species of dragonflies,” the MoEF notification states, adding that it is necessary to conserve and protect the area from ecological, environmental and biodiversity point of view and to prohibit industries or class of industries and their operations and processes.
The villages that have been included in the eco-sensitive zone are Lakadpur (Surajkund), Pali, Mangar, Bandhwari, Gual Pahari, Balola, Gothra (Mohtabad), Badkhal, Ankhir, Mewla Mahrajpur and Anangpur.
Experts lauded the step but said more could have been done. Vijay Dhasmana, an ecologist with NGO IamGurugram, said: “These are very rich wildlife habitats and act as water recharge zone for Delhi, Faridabad and Gurgaon. I am glad they did it. I think the Haryana government should reciprocate in the larger interest of humanity to mitigate air pollution and the grave situation of depleting groundwater and drinking water, and declare the whole of Aravali in south Haryana in Faridabad, Gurgaon, Mewat and Rewari as an eco-sensitive zone.”
Forest analyst Chetan Agarwal said the Aravalis in the NCR are classified as natural conservation zone, which means there are strict restrictions on construction.
“It would have been better if the full Aravalis contiguous to Asola sanctuary right up to Damdama lake had been included in the eco-sensitive zone and the regulations had strengthened the existing NCZ restrictions,” Agarwal said.
