Admn will try to bring Pb, Hry on same page

SUKHNA ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE

Chandigarh: After its victory in Tata Camelot case, the Chandigarh administration will now push for early declaration of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary by neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.

Till date, the Union ministry of environment and forests has issued final notification on ESZ around the sanctuary for Chandigarh alone.

A senior UT official said they would soon hold a meeting with their Punjab and Haryana counterparts for declaration of ESZ around the sanctuary. “On Punjab and Haryana’s proposal, the ministry will definitely seek UT’s response as it is also a stakeholder in Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. In our response, we will demand that the states follow UT, which has declared section varying from 2km to 2.75km from the sanctuary boundary here as ESZ,” he added.

The UT would also write to the two states to regulate human activities in the catchment area as the Supreme Court has also upheld that huge construction could not be allowed close to the sanctuary. Besides, they expected neighbouring states to act on their own, he said.

On January 25, 2017, the ministry had issued the ESZ notification for Chandigarh.

Sources said, “Punjab and Haryana have also submitted their proposal.”

On September 17, 2015, the ministry had issued the draft notification only for the sanctuary area that fell under UT and not for the section that came under Punjab and Haryana. Thereafter, UT had submitted its objections, urging the ministry to issue a notification for the entire ESZ to protect the sanctuary, whose 90% area fell under the jurisdiction of Punjab and Haryana. Turning down its demand, the ministry declared ESZ only for Chandigarh.

Construction in ESZ

No new construction of any kind will be permitted within 0.5km (zone-I) from the boundary of the eco-sensitive zone. The local people can carry out reconstruction/repair of buildings in zone-I subject to the restriction.

From 0.5km to 1.25km from the boundary of Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, construction of low density (ground coverage less than half of the plot size) and low-rise building (height up to 15 feet) can be allowed if permissible under the prescribed land use plan of the area.

Beyond 1.25km, construction of new buildings and houses will be regulated as per the Chandigarh administration building bylaws.

Villages under it

Three villages of Chandigarh — Khuda Ali Sher, Kishangarh and Kaimbwala — come under eco-sensitive zone.