Neighbours causing conservation zone to shrink: Planning board

The planning board  informed the NGT that the shrinkage was detected after the analysis of satellite imaging by the National Remote Sensing Centre.

The planning board , in its affidavit, said it had immediately responded by communicating the report of the shrinkage to the state governments, seeking their “reasons”. But despite repeated communication, the planning board  said “no reasons for variations of NCZ were received by any of the NCR participating state governments”.

Four letters were sent to each of the four governments between April 7 and May 12. Notice was issued to the four principal secretaries by the planning board on June 23.

While urging the NGT to take “appropriate action”, the planning board said “non-implementation of the policies of the regional plan, related to natural conservation zones” by the four state governments had led to the “violation of policies outlined in the Regional Plan 2021 with regard to NCZ”.

The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by senior advocate Raj Panjwani who was appearing for Legal Aid Committee. The petition stated that the decrease in NCZ had seriously impacted “ecological contribution from designated zones”.