6 months ago
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The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court to look into the simplification successful the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) astir the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), successful its study submitted to the apex tribunal connected Wednesday, has recommended to reconstruct a 2016 draught notification and cancel a 2020 notification which reduces the ESZ.
The study was filed pursuing a caller sojourn by a CEC subordinate to the BNP successful effect to a petition arguing that the notification regarding the simplification of the ESZ has excluded ecologically captious areas surrounding established elephant corridors from the ESZ and that the adoption of a one-km ESZ norm for the protected country of the wood ignores site-specific ecological requirements.
Reduced area
According to the report, the ESZ initially projected astir BNP successful the draught notification dated June 15, 2016, covering an country of 268.96 sq. km was reduced to 181.57 sq. km. and thereafter to 168.84 sq. km. successful the last notification dated March 11, 2020.
“The CEC notes that these successive reductions were effected without immoderate demonstrable scientific, ecological oregon scenery level appraisal being placed connected grounds to warrant specified curtailment of the ESZ extent,” the study states.
In its recommendation, the CEC said that the last ESZ notification of 2020 insofar arsenic it excludes scientifically identified elephant corridors and ecologically important patches forming portion of the BNP landscape, warrants reconsideration and shall beryllium withdrawn by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), forthwith.
It added that the archetypal ESZ grade of 268.96 sq. km, arsenic successful the 2016 draught notification, shall beryllium afloat restored and said that the identified elephant corridors connecting BNP with adjoining wood landscapes necessitate continued extortion and strengthening done regulatory and absorption measures.
Human-elephant conflict
“In presumption of the expanding incidence of human-elephant struggle successful the southern, western, south-eastern and south-western parts of BNP, peculiarly successful and astir the villages of Herandyapanahalli, Tippuru, Bijahalli, Bommasandra, Hosadurga, Salbanni and Guddeveeranahosahallu, wherever the ESZ is presently delineated astatine 100 metres and which prevarication on elephant question pathways betwixt the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary and BNP, a reappraisal of the existing ESZ delineation, including buffer width, shall beryllium considered to fortify the wood habitation interface and enactment mitigation of quality elephant conflict,” it further added.
In six months
It has besides recommended that the full workout to re-notify the ESZ of BNP beryllium completed wrong the adjacent six months.
The CEC has besides noted that the determination to trim the ESZ was taken successful the Cabinet Sub-Committee gathering Chaired by the Karnataka Environment Minister successful 2017 and that this is contrary to para 6.2 of the 2011 Guidelines for Declaration of ESZ astir National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
The guidelines necessitate the State authorities to represent a committee comprising the Chief Wildlife Warden, an ecologist, a typical of the section self-government and an serviceman of the Revenue Department to measure and urge the due grade of the ESZ for its absorption and the activities incorporated successful the maestro program for the region.
“The revised connection for simplification successful ESZ is successful usurpation of the 2011 guidelines,” it said.
