Eco-sensitive zones
What Are Eco-Sensitive Zones?
- ESZs and ESAs were established in compliance with the 1986 Environment Protection Act.
- These were included in the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016).
- Ten kilometres of the borders of national parks and animal refuges must be designated as eco-fragile zones or eco-sensitive zones (ESZ).
- It is not advisable to strictly stick to this 10-kilometer limit.
How can we differentiate them?
- “Eco-Sensitive Zones” are not defined under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
- The Central Government may impose limits on the sites where any industries, operations, or processes, or a class of industries, operations, or processes, may or may not be carried out, in accordance with Section 3(2)(v) of the Act.
- According to Rule 5(1) of the Environment (Protection) Rules of 1986, the central government may restrict or forbid a company’s location as well as the execution of particular operations or procedures depending on a variety of variables.
- Based on the same criteria, the government established No Development Zones (NDZs).
Need of Eco-Sensitive Zones:
- These particular areas are the only ones where nearby human activity is impacted.
- To safeguard the protected regions, this is done (PAs).
- These areas are meant to act as a crossing point between areas that require more protection and those that don’t.
- Animal-traveling areas need to be kept secure.
- help to lessen the adverse consequences of urbanisation.
- to lessen conflict between people and wildlife.
- Statistics show that animals rarely leave ESZs.
- It tries to increase biodiversity without interfering with normal activities around the Protected Areas.
What is acceptable and what is not acceptable in ESZ:
- All forms of agriculture and horticulture, including traditional methods, green technology, and organic farming, are accepted.
- The following activities are not permitted: large hydroelectric projects (HEP), industrial mining, sawmills, businesses that pollute the environment (air, water, soil, noise, etc.), tourism-related activities like hot-air balloon flights over national parks, the release of effluents or any solid waste, and the production of hazardous materials.
- Construction of hotels and resorts, the installation of power lines, the use of natural water for commercial reasons, the use of heavy machinery, the use of insecticides and other chemicals in agriculture, and the widening of roads are all prohibited.
Problems associated with ESZs:
- The residents of the ESZ are anxious about their ability to support themselves because permanent structures cannot be built.
- The most recent notice, which would designate 4 lakh acres of (Kerala) as an ESZ, will have an influence on farmers’ lives.
- Their quality of life may suffer if low-income households are driven out of these metropolitan neighbourhoods.
- The current ESZ demarcation cannot be refuted by scientific data.
- Every statement made by the ESZ will violate human rights.
- It will be difficult to measure distance if there are topographical differences (eg around a hill).
