Lok Sabha Question No. 4 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-18
Subject: Ban on Development Projects in ESZs
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Subrata Pathak, Ravi Kishan Shukla, Ravindra Kushawaha, Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik, Prataprao  Jadhav, Sambhajirao Mane Dhairyasheel, Shrirang Appa Barne, Sudheer Gupta

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

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 18.07.2022

## Ban on Development Projects in ESZs

## 4. SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK:

SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI RAVINDRA KUSHWAHA:

SHRI MANOJ TIWARI:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI SANJAY SADASHIVRAO MANDLIK:

SHRI PRATAPRAO JADHAV:

SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJIRAO MANE:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE:

SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

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

- (a) whether  the  Supreme  Court  of  India  has  directed  the  Government  to  have  1km  EcoSensitive  Zone(ESZ)  at  every  protected  forest  and  no  development  projects  will  be allowed within that periphery;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government in this regard;
- (c) whether the SC has also directed the Government not to allow mining work in Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Parks and if so, the details;
- (d) whether the Government has received any proposal from the State Governments in this regard and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether  the Government  has  approved  the  draft notification for delineation  and recognition of nine animal corridors to the south of Kaziranga National Park and if so, the details thereof and if not, the time by which it is likely to be done?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a)to (d) Hon'ble Supreme Court vide their judgment dated 3 rd June 2022 in I A No. 1000 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 202 of 1995, has directed that each protected forest, that is national park or wildlife sanctuary must have an Eco- sensitive Zone (ESZ) of

minimum  one kilometer measured from the demarcated boundary of such protected forest in which the activities proscribed and prescribed in the Guidelines of 9 th February, 2011 shall be strictly adhered to.

Further, as per the said judgment, the minimum width of the ESZ may be diluted in overwhelming public interest but for that purpose the State or Union Territory concerned  shall approach  the  CEC  and  MoEF&CC  and  both  these  bodies  shall give their respective opinions/ recommendations before the Hon'ble Court. On that basis, Hon'ble Supreme Court shall pass appropriate order.

Hon'ble Supreme Court has also directed that mining within National Parks and Sanctuaries shall not be permitted. As per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change dated 9 th February 2011 for declaration of eco-sensitive zones around National Parks and Sanctuaries, commercial mining has been already indicated as one of the prohibited activities within notified Eco Sensitive Zones.

- (e) As informed by the State Government of Assam, in pursuance of Hon'ble Supreme Court  order,  a  notification  no.  FRW.7/2022/pt.V/01.  dated  01.04.2022  regarding identification  and  delineation  of  nine  animal  corridors  connecting  Kaziranga National  Park  and  Karbi  Anglong  Hills  has  been  issued  by  the  Government  of Assam.