The first and only tri-State riverine protected area in India for breeding population of critically endangered Gharial, the National Chambal Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, finally got its eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) earmarked where no new construction or anti-wildlife activities will be allowed. The area of the ESZ is 870 square kilometers.
Located at the tri-junction of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, the Sanctuary is home of naturally living population of 75 percent of the critically endangered species of Gharial and also harbours national aquatic animal -the fresh water gangetic dolphins, nine species of fresh water turtles and more than 180 species of migratory birds.
“The Central Government hereby notifies an area to an extent of zero to two kilometres around the boundary of National Chambal Sanctuary in the state of Madhya Pradesh as the National Chambal Sanctuary Eco-sensitive Zone,” said a notification issued by the Union Environment Ministry on February 20.
Incidentally, no objections and suggestions were received from persons and stakeholders in response to the draft notification issued last year in June for the Sanctuary which lies across Sheopur, Morena and Bhind districts of Madhya Pradesh with a length of 435 kilometers and area of 435 square kilometers.
The Ministry has directed the Madhya Pradesh Government to prepare a Zonal Master Plan, which shall provide for restoration of denuded areas, conservation of existing water bodies, management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater management, soil and moisture conservation, needs of local community and such other aspects of the ecology and environment that need attention.
In its notification, the government prohibited any new construction of hotels and resorts within one kilometre from the boundary of the wildlife sanctuary or up to the extent of the ESZ, whichever is nearer.
“Provided that beyond the distance of one kilometre from the boundary of the wildlife sanctuary till the extent of the Eco-Sensitive Zone, the establishment of new hotels and resorts shall be allowed only in pre-defined and designated areas for ecotourism facilities as per Tourism Master Plan,” the notification said.
It said that forests, horticulture areas, agricultural areas, parks and open spaces earmarked for recreational purposes in the Eco-sensitive Zone shall not be used or converted into areas for commercial or residential or industrial activities.
The extent of Eco-sensitive Zone varies from zero (due to Inter-State boundary) to two kilometer from the National Chambal Sanctuary in the State of Madhya Pradesh.