By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, May 28, 2017 : The union ministry of forest, environment and climate change has finally declared part of Odisha’s Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) for conservation of the sensitive coastal ecosystem and biodiversity in the region.

The notification, which appeared in the Gazette of India dated May 19 last declares 21.5 square km area out of the sanctuary’s 85 sq km as ESZ, including about 30 villages.

“The extent of Eco-sensitive Zone varies from 0 metres to 500 metres on the landward side of boundary of the Balukhanda-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary. 21. 50 square kilometres,” says the Gazette notification.

The sanctuary is stretched along the coast of Puri –Konark and is well known for spotted- deer, Black-Buck, Hare, Olive Ridley, Jackal, hyenas, Jungle cat, Monitor lizards, etc . But with the passage of time, the effective area of the sanctuary has shrunk further due to human encroachments and ever growing anthropogenic pressures. With several educational institutions and small industries having come up all around this sanctuary more biotic pressure is being put on the sanctuary precincts.

The Central government has asked the state government to draft a Zonal Master Plan, within a period of two years in consultation with local people, to provide for “restoration of denuded areas, conservation of existing water bodies, management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater management, soil and moisture conservation, needs of the local community and such other aspects of the ecology and environment that need attention”.

It added that the plan will factor in improvement of all infrastructure and activities to be more efficient and eco-friendly.

The plan, according to the government, must also prohibit polluting activities, curb construction, land use change for industrial and commercial use, and promote development through white industries for the tribals. The state government has also asked to work on the waste management and rainwater harvesting in the ESZ region.

“No use of tribal land shall be permitted for commercial and industrial development activities … No new construction of hotels and resorts shall be allowed within one km from the boundary of the Balukhand-Konark Wildlife Sanctuary or upto the extent of the eco-sensitive Zone,” the notification said.