No eco-sensitive zone notification, no appraisal; Union Environment Minister directs in wildlife board meet

An eco-sensitive zone is an area typically within 10 km of a national park or wildlife sanctuary, demarcated to regulate activities near these largely no-development parks and sanctuary areas. If a state government has not moved an ESZ proposal, a 10-km area around parks and sanctuaries is considered the default ESZ, based on the Supreme Court’s directions.

“The chairman directed that no proposal for wildlife clearance/recommendations of the SC-NBWL for the projects falling in ESZ shall be placed before the standing committee, if the draft or final notification of the ESZ has not been published by the State,” the SC-NBWL’s minutes stated.

The Union environment minister also directed the ministry to coordinate with states to expedite the finalisation of the draft or final ESZ notification.

ESZs are notified as a second-tier of legal protection. They act as a buffer against the negative impacts of infrastructure projects, as wildlife from parks and sanctuaries often moves out for various reasons, and to protect water sources and ecology in the area. While commercial mining, sawmills, polluting industries, and major hydroelectric projects are prohibited in ESZs, certain other activities are either regulated, permitted, or promoted.

Draft guidelines for eco-sensitive zones

The minister’s directions come in the backdrop of a decision taken in SC-NBWL’s December meeting to finalise draft guidelines on examination of infrastructure proposals proposed either in ESZs or wetlands in and around protected areas. These have been prepared to ensure that infrastructure development is undertaken in ESZs and around wetlands with safeguards for ecology, biodiversity, and hydrology, among other things.

According to data tabled in Rajya Sabha in November 2024, the ministry has published 347 ESZ notifications, while it accorded environmental clearance to 43 projects in ESZs between 2018 and 2023.

The broad contours of the guidelines propose categorising projects as those within existing notified ESZs, those within areas where ESZ drafts have been notified, and proposals where ESZs have not been notified.

Last June, SC-NBWL also discussed revisiting guidelines for declaring ESZs around parks and sanctuaries to make them more site-specific and in tune with ecological and socio-economic realities. Independent members had flagged that giant solar or wind energy plants, promoted as activities, and those using large tracts of land around parks may threaten wildlife and their migration routes, and suggested regulating such projects.

Last December, the Union environment minister, in response to a starred question by Renuka Chowdhury of the Congress, said that 201 proposals were received for clearing infrastructure projects in eco-sensitive zones, wildlife corridors, national parks, and tiger reserves.