After dragging its feet on the proposal of creating eco-sensitive zone around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and Bird Sanctuary here, the UT Administration on Thursday finally decided to put up the file with UT Administrator Shivraj Patil for final nod.
A meeting of senior officials of UT Urban Planning Department, UT Forest and Wildlife Department was held under KK Sharma, Adviser to UT Administrator on Thursday to finalise the proposal of creating eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the two Sanctuaries in the union territory of Chandigarh.
While earlier the UT Urban Planning Department (Master Plan Committee) and UT Forest and Wildlife Department had drafted ‘different guidelines’ for creating eco-sensitive zone around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, both the Departments reached a consensus on Thursday and finalised the proposal of ESZ.
The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary spreads over an area of nearly 26 sq km and is inhabited by a large number of Sambars, peacocks and endangered species like spotted deer, porcupine, pangolin, wild pigs, cheetal. The Bird Sanctuary also known as Parrot Park, spreading over an area of 1.8 hectares is in the heart of a bustling residential area in Sector 21 here.
Sources said, “In a meeting held on Thursday, the UT Administration has made some changes in the proposal mooted by Expert Committee, which was constituted for preparing a plan for ESZ around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. The area of ESZ around the Sanctuary would be less than 5 kms now.”
Notably, the recommendation of UT Expert Committee for declaring ‘5 km’ area around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary as ESZ was ‘holding up’ the plan finalization since long. Another contentious issue of ‘height restriction’ of new constructions in ESZ had also raised concerns.
Sources informed, “In case of Bird Sanctuary, the UT has proposed to put restrictions on activities like bursting of fire crackers and has made a no-honking zone within 100 meters from the Sanctuary boundary on all sides.”
“Also, activities like new constructions, digging of deep bore wells, hydel projects, expansion of the road outside the Sanctuary, mining would not be permitted within 100 meters from the Sanctuary boundary,” said sources.
While talking to The Pioneer, KK Sharma, Adviser to UT Administrator said, “The proposals regarding the ESZ around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and Bird Sanctuary have been finalised in the meeting.”
“Now, both the proposals will be put up with the UT Administrator Shivraj Patil for final approval,” he added.