The ministry of Environment and forest declared India rsquo s first marine eco sensitive zone in nda......

The ministry of Environment and forest declared India’s first marine eco. sensitive zone in–

The ministry declared 313 sq km around  the  Marine  National Park in Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat as an eco-sensitive zone through a notification. Of this, 208 sq km is land while the remaining is on the seaside. Land use for recreational, commercial or industrial development will not be permitted   in the area except for residential purpose. Mining, including fresh water mining, and release of polluted water and waste will also be prohibited. The ministry even disallowed fishing by trawlers. The government will prepare a zonal ecology conservation master plan. The plan will restore denuded areas as well as existing water bodies. The plan should also have provision for management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater  and  soil conservation.

By: Parvesh Mehta