Lok Sabha Question No. 3545 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-11
Subject: No Construction zone around Okhla Bird Sanctuary
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: RAJ KUMAR SINGH

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.   3545**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2015

**No Construction zone around Okhla Bird Sanctuary**

3545.    SHRI R.K. SINGH:

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

1. whether the issue of fixing the no construction zone around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary has been pending for more than six months even after the draft publication was completed and only final publication remains to be done;

1. whether thousands of citizens who had invested their meagre savings to book flats in NOIDA are facing extreme hardship as they have not got their homes even after having paid their instalments;
2. whether the Government inform the reasons for the inordinate delay in coming to a decision; and
3. if so, the time by which the Government is likely to decide in the matter?

**ANSWER**

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

|         | There is no proposal in the Ministry for fixing of no construction zone around Okhla Bird Sanctuary. However, the Ministry has issued a draft notification for declaration of eco-sensitive zone around Okhla Bird Sanctuary on 24  th  September 2014. The declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones around National Parks and Sanctuaries involves consultation with States and also seeking comments from the public, after issuing a preliminary notification giving 60 days for this purpose. As per the Gazette Notification No. G.S.R. 513 (E) dated 28  th  June 2012, final order under sub-rule 3(d) of Rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, is to be issued within a period of 545 days of publication of preliminary notification.                                                                                                                                                                                               |
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|         | As per the extant regulatory practice, the projects requiring Environment Clearance, if located within 10 kms of  a Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park, shall require recommendation of Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). However, no proposal for building construction within 10 kms of Okhla Sanctuary has been received for consideration of the Standing Committee of NBWL.  In this context, the National Green Tribunal vide their order dated 28.10.2013 had directed that “..  *all the building constructions made within 10 km radius of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary or within distance of eco-sensitive zone as may be prescribed by the Notification issued by the MoEF shall be subject to the decision of the NBWL and till the time the clearance of NBWL is obtained, the authority concerned shall not issue completion certificates to the projects*  ”. The next NBWL meeting is scheduled for 18.08.2015. |
| and (d) | As per sub-rule 3(d) of Rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, as quoted in reply to part (a) of the question above, the time limit for final order is 545 days from the date of publication of the preliminary notification.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |

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