Taking exception to the flagrant disregard for environmental regulations at the Ramsar site and Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Sultanpur National Park in Gurugram, Haryana, a high-level central panel chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, has sought action against the offenders.
It has also called for a comprehensive action taken report from the State Government in the matter. At a meeting held recently, the members of the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) led by the Union Minister deliberated in detail on the observations made in the report prepared under the supervision of Inspector General (Wildlife). The report was particularly alarming to the extent that it “leaves much to be desired.”
The report said despite the national park being enclosed by a boundary and its habitats largely preserved due to the proactive measures of the Forest and Wildlife Department, the governance and management practices within the ESZ are found to be seriously deficient.
The violations of the ESZ zonal plan and notification are expected to exacerbate development pressures in the area, thereby jeopardizing the park’s ecosystem. Evidence indicates significant stress on the national park, as demonstrated by the reduction in the size of Sultanpur Jheel and the increased reliance on the Gurgaon canal to maintain water levels, the report stated.
“The violations of ESZ zonal plan and the ESZ notification are likely to intensify development in the region, thus putting the park ecosystem at risk,” warned the report about the Sultanpur wetland.
Furthermore, the report highlighted the park’s previous exposure to species invasion and the considerable loss of wetland areas surrounding the park, which is of serious concern. It underscores the importance of the ESZ notification and the zonal plan as essential regulatory tools to align regional development with the ecological needs of the protected site.
The report emphasises that the ESZ notification and the zonal plan are essential tools for aligning regional development with the park’s ecological needs. It called for strict enforcement of existing regulations, enhanced monitoring of compliance, and improved coordination among agencies to safeguard the park’s biodiversity and ecological services.
The Committee concluded that the park represents a critical biodiversity hotspot. Preserving the park’s biodiversity and ecosystem services is vital for both regional ecological and economic stability, as well as for the global biodiversity, given its designation as a Wetland of International Importance.
The Committee has recommended stringent enforcement of existing regulations, vigilant monitoring of ESZ compliance, the development of interagency coordination mechanisms, the preservation of no-construction zones, and addressing shortcomings in the Sultanpur ESZ Zonal Plan notification.
It has also called for the removal of unauthorized farmhouses that have proliferated in the region and prevention of alterations to hydrological pathways.
Mitigation measures proposed include compensating for increased built-up areas with additional green cover, enhancing human resources for the management of the Ramsar site and the ESZ, preparing an integrated management plan, and fostering community awareness. Regular monitoring and adaptive management have also been advised, along with ensuring that enforcement actions reach their logical conclusion.
Expressing his displeasure at the deteriorating status of the site, the Minister emphasised the extensive violations occurring within the Ramsar Site’s ESZ and directed the State Government to enforce strict measures against the offenders.
The Regional Office of the Ministry has been tasked with overseeing the State Government’s actions and providing monthly updates to the Ministry.
However, this is not the first instance of the Environment Minister Yadav voicing his concerns over regulatory breaches at the Sultanpur Park. In a Standing Committee (NBWL) meeting earlier this year, he highlighted the adverse impacts of construction activities in surrounding areas, which have led to water drainage blockages and significant ecological degradation.
“We are at risk of permanently losing this Ramsar Site,” he had warned. “The area has become increasingly marshy due to blocked drainage channels, and the water from Delhi that used to flow into Najafgarh is now obstructed,” Yadav had said.
