Wildlife nod must for projects in ESZ

Nagpur: Developmental projects falling within 10km from national parks and sanctuaries seeking environmental clearance will also need wildlife okay if they are within the notified eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) and those linking one protected area to another.
The ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) in an advisory, issued on July 16, has cleared the confusion of states over procedure for consideration of wildlife clearance of developmental projects located within 10km of national parks and sanctuaries by the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) seeking environmental clearance under provisions of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2006.
The projects include all types of mining, irrigation, offshore oil and gas exploration, thermal and nuclear power, coal washeries, metallurgical industries, cement plants, asbestos-based products, chemical and fertilizer units, airports, highways, treatment plants etc.
“If the conditions by MoEFCC are followed, then coal blocks listed for auction in Marki-Mangli-II in Pandharkawda division by the coal ministry will need NBWL clearance as these blocks fall in the notified tiger conservation plan (TCP) of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR). The blocks also fall between one protected area to another,” said environment lawyer Manish Jeswani.
The MoEFCC has also stated that even if the ESZ proposal of the parks is in draft stage, developmental projects will need permission from the standing committee of NBWL.
Jeswani says confusion arose over notification issued by MoEFCC on August 8, 2019, as projects which were not mentioned in the Schedule appended to EIA notification and were not required to obtain environmental clearance were also asked to obtain wildlife clearance from NBWL.
“In the light of this ambiguity of August notification, the environment ministry came up with above clarification, mandating wildlife clearance only for those projects which are listed in Schedule to EIA 2006 and which require environmental clearance, if falling within notified ESZ or within 10km from boundary of sanctuary or national park or falling within area linking two protected areas,” said Jeswani.