The Environment Ministry has given approval to the proposal for eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Maharashtra.
This will prohibit the functioning of polluting units as mines, crushers, power plants, saw mills etc in the vicinity of the protected area, that cause air, water and noise pollution. It will also not allow controversial mines like Bandar and lohara, which were being pushed by powerful lobbies to benefit private power companies. According to sources, similar other proposals for other tiger reserves are in queue for consideration by the Ministry.
The Ministry, of late, under Environment minister Veerappa Moily, has been in news for its spree of clearances to big-ticket industrial projects.
The sources in National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) informed that the eco-zone of TATR will stretch for about 1,347 sq km, which is more than double the area of Tadoba (625 sq km). This according to the sources will give a major boost towards protection of corridors and controlling of man tiger conflict in the region.
The sources said that nearly half of this ESZ area is covered by reserve forests. The physical boundary of Tadoba ESZ includes boundary of Chandrapur and Nagpur forest circles in the North, railway line between Gondia and Chanda Fort in South. It shares boundary with Chandrapur and Brahmapuri division in the East and Irai dam and its backwaters in West.
According to them, apart from entire notified buffer zone of Tadoba, the additional area that forms the corridor to Umred forest region and another patch that goes towards Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary near Tadoba has been included in the eco-zone. These patches of forest are effective corridor areas for source tiger populations in Tadoba and its prey base.
The MoEF had issued guidelines for notification of ESZs around national parks and sanctuaries on February 9, 2011. However, only a few States including Maharashtra came forward with proposals. The National Board For Wildlife too had pressed for declaring lands falling within 10km of the boundary of the parks as eco-fragile zones. However, due to reservations by States, the matter was examined by the NBWl in 2005, wherein it was decided to have site-specific ESZs.