Lok Sabha Question No. 6631 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-04-06
Subject: Eco-Sensitive Zones around National Parks
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAHUL KASWAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.   6631

TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.04.2018

## Eco-Sensitive Zones around National Parks

## 6631 .    SHRI RAHUL KASWAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Supreme Court had directed the Government to create eco-sensitive zones around the national parks and had also laid down some conditions in this regard;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to ensure/maintain sanctity of eco-sensitive zones around the national parks and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether any permission is required for bringing any changes/doing away with water bodies, disposal of waste water or watersheds around eco-sensitive zones; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a)  and (b) Yes,  Madam. Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  had  issued  directives  for  creation  of Eco-Sensitive  Zones  around  National  Parks  in  connection  with  Writ  Petition No. 460/2004, on 4 th December 2006, Hon'ble Court had directed the Ministry of  Environment  and  Forests  to  give  a  final  opportunity  to  all  States/Union Territories  to  respond  to  the  letter  dated  27.5.2005,  wherein  the  MoEFCC communicated  the  decision  of  the  National  Board  for  Wildlife  and  had requested  for  submission  of  site  specific  proposals  for  declaration  of  EcoSensitive Zones around National Park and Sanctuaries.

Hon'ble Court had also mentioned in the said order that the MoEF would also refer  cases  where  environment  clearance  has  already  been  granted  where activities are within 10 km. zone to the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife .

- (c) The  important  steps  to  ensure/maintain  the  sanctity  of  Eco-Sensitive  Zones around National parks include:
- (i) In pursuance of the said order, the Ministry of Environment and Forest issued  an  Office  Memorandum  No.  J-11013/41/2006-IA.  II(I)    dated 2 nd December  2009  stipulating  that  while  granting  environmental clearance  to  projects  located  within  10  km  of  National  Parks  and Sanctuary, a specific condition shall be stipulated that the environmental  clearance  is  subject  to  their  obtaining  prior  clearance from Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife.
- (ii) In 2011, the Ministry prepared guidelines for facilitating submission of proposals.
- (iii)The activities  in  the  ESZ  are  monitored  by  a  Monitoring  Committee, chaired by the District Collector as the chairman and the DCF of the concerned National Park/Sanctuary as the Member Secretary.
- (d) and (e) All  activities  in  the  Eco  sensitive  Zone  are  governed  as  per  the  provisions contained  in  the  Notification.  Activities  for  altering  or  terminating  water bodies or water sheds around eco-sensitive zones are governed by provisions of  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986  and  the  rules  made  there  under. Other applicable laws including the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 are also applicable.