Context: Recently, the Supreme Court modified its June 3, 2022 order mandating a one-kilometre eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around protected areas, saying if such a direction is continued, rather than avoiding man-animal conflict, this will intensify it.

• The ESZs provide a buffer zone around the Protected Areas.

SC’s rulings

• 2022 order will not be applicable to ESZs.

• The 2022 order stated that the National Park and wildlife sanctuary must have an ESZ of minimum 1km, measured from the demarcated boundary of such protected forest.

• It lifted a complete ban on development and construction activities within eco-sensitive zone (ESZs).

• Rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 lays down procedure for notifying an ESZ and prohibiting or restricting various activities in the specified areas.

• It will also not be applicable where the national parks and sanctuaries are located on inter-state borders or share common boundaries.

• Any development activity in a notified ESZ, and national parks or sanctuaries for which no ESZ has been notified, will require consideration and recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) or its standing committee in addition to the environment clearance under the EP rules.

• No mining would be allowed, either within national parks and sanctuaries or in a 1-km radius.

• The rights of the villagers residing in the Protected Areas are required to be settled in accordance with the provisions contained in the Wildlife Protection Act 1972

• Such villagers have to be rehabilitated outside the Protected Areas.

• However, no such settlement of rights is available to the villagers residing in the ESZs areas.

• Even for continuation of existing activities, the permission of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) of each State or Union Territory would be necessary.

Key facts

• The Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve- Andhra Pradesh

• The Valmiki Wildlife Sanctuary, Valmiki National Park and Valmiki Tiger Reserve- Bihar  

• The Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary- Kerala