The Supreme Court has withdrawn the complete ban on development activities of at least one kilometre around protected wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, and forests within Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs).
Development Activities Near Eco-Sensitive Zones
It is mentioned this is likely to have an impact on development activities that have till now been banned in and around eco-sensitive zones like Kaziranga National Park and Deepor Beel.
The apex court of India modified its June 2022 order to state that activities within Eco-Sensitive Zones shall be guided by the February 2011 guidelines.
The bench clarified mining within national parks and one kilometre from boundaries shall not be permissible. The court remarked the MoEFCC’s February 2011 guidelines have prohibited commercial mining in Eco-Sensitive Zones, however, eco-tourism, the establishment of hotels and resorts, and other activities will be allowed under strict regulation.
It may be noted the ban will not apply to instances where appropriate notifications to that effect have been issued by the MoEFCC. The ban will also not apply to Eco-Sensitive Zones that are located on inter-state borders or share common boundaries between states.
