The Chandigarh Administration has re-constituted the monitoring committee for eco-sensitive zone for Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and City Bird Sanctuary in Sector 21 here.
The 10-member monitoring committee is headed by UT Chief Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden.
“The UT Administrator is pleased to re-constitute the monitoring committee for effective monitoring of eco-sensitive zone for both the Sanctuaries i.e Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and City Bird Sanctuary for further three years,” the order stated.
In 2017, Chandigarh had declared eco sensitive zone around the sanctuary in the area that falls within the boundary of union territory of Chandigarh. The width of this ESZ in Chandigarh ranges from 2 - 2.75 kms. However, the area that falls under Punjab and Haryana is yet to be notified as ESZ. The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary spreads over an area of 26 sq km. According to the UT officials, the catchment area around the Sanctuary is around 36 running kilometers. Out of the total area of catchment, around 10 percent of the perimeter of Sanctuary abuts the city and the major part is along neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana.
Among the members of the monitoring committee included UT chief architect, UT chief engineer, MC chief engineer, UT Director Rural Development, Member Secretary Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee. Deputy Conservator of Forests is member secretary of the committee.
Pramod Sharma of Yuvsatta, Prof SC Jain, ex-chairman, Chemical Engineering Department, Panjab University and representative of National Biodiversity Authority have also been included as members.
The monitoring committee shall monitor the compliance of the provisions of notification issued by MoEF dated January 18, 2017 declaring ESZ around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and City Bird Sanctuary, according to the order. The committee shall submit the annual action taken report of its activities as on March 31 every year by June 30 of that year to the Chief Wildlife Warden, the order added.