Date | Dec 07, 2016:
Though the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change on Tuesday declared an area of 100 metres to four kilometres from the boundary of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park as an Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) where construction will be banned, environmental groups in Mumbai have criticised the notification stating that it does little to protect the ecology of Mumbai’s last green lung.
Issuing a final notification for the zone of 59.46 sq kms of which 19.25 sq km is forest land and 40.21 sq km is non-forest land in the National Park in Mumbai suburb, Union Environment Minister Anil Dave said “Hundred metres up to four kilometres from its boundary, we have marked it. The extent (of ESZ) varies at different places taking into consideration its geographical area. No construction will take place in this marked area.”
However, environmental activists pointed out that the ESZ declaration defeated the very purpose for which the Supreme Court had asked the government to declare Protected Areas (PA) as Eco-Sensitive Zones in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
“The Supreme Court had underlined the necessity of ESZs to create a buffer around the protected areas with the intention of protecting ecology. But, this notification only exposes the priority of the government which is to sell land to developers,” said Stalin D of environmental NGO Vanshakti.
The notification lists commercial mining, stone quarrying, saw mills, industries, hydroelectric and thermal power plants among prohibited activities. “But, these are not the activities that presently pose a threat to the national park. This is like you sitting in the balcony of your house in perfect health, and I come to you with vaccinations for ailments that do not threaten you,” he said.
He pointed out that the notification also has contradictions in the kind of construction activities allowed. “In Para 10, it says no new commercial hotels and resorts except eco-friendly tourism activities will be permitted within one kilometre of the ESZ. In Para 11, it says that construction shall be permitted within the ESZ as per provisions of the approved Development Plan and other regulations under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act,” he said.
“The notification excludes our Metro III proposed depot land. Besides, metro activity is included in the activities permitted,” Mumbai Rail Corporation Ltd managing director Ashwini Bhide told Mirror when asked if the notification impacted the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro project.
“Another saving grace in the notification is that provisions of this notification are subject to the orders of the Supreme Court, the High Court, and the National Green Tribunal. So, we still have some way of fighting this,” Stalin said.
(Source: http://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/)