State fails to prepare zonal plans for eco-sensitive zones

Nagpur: At a time when polluting industries like cement plants and mining projects are being pushed in the notified eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and tiger corridors, the state government has failed to notify even a single zonal master plan (ZMP), which regulates these detrimental units.
It is mandatory for the state government to prepare zonal master plans for ESZ as per the MoEFCC guidelines. The ZMP is prepared in consultation with local people within two years from the date of ESZ notification in the official gazette.
“The purpose of making the zonal plan is to regulate the developmental activities in the region in such a way that it ensures environmental and ecological protection of the entire endangered area,” says state wildlife board member Bandu Dhotre, who had raised this issue in the state wildlife board meeting chaired by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on August 7.
According to Dhotre, in the 2016 final gazette ESZ notifications for six protected areas (PAs) — Karnala, Navegaon-Nagzira, Painganga, Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), Gautala-Autramghat, and Melghat were issued. “However, even after four years their zonal plans are not ready. Not only zonal plans, no monitoring committees headed by district collectors and deputy conservators of forests as member-secretary have been set up yet,” said Dhotre.
Similarly, between 2017 and 2019, final ESZ notifications for 14 protected areas, including sensitive Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and Tipeshwar wildlife sanctuary were issued but no process to prepare zonal plans and monitoring committees have been initiated.
Dhotre in a memorandum to state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray has apprised about it and demanded to expedite preparation of zonal master plans and committees.
Amravati divisional commissioner Piyush Singh said, “These proposals are not routed through me. It is the district collector who has to initiate the process. I will find out and get back to you.”
MS Reddy, APCCF & field director of Melghat tiger reserve and in-charge of six sanctuaries — Tipeshwar, Painganga, Lonar, Katepurna, Dyanganga and Karanja Sohol, said, “Though I have no role to play in making of zonal master plan, it has not been done anywhere in the state. Even monitoring committees are also not in place.”
Reddy said the zonal plan is monitored by the by monitoring committee. Such a plan has to be prepared by the collector as it involves departments like environment, forest, urban development, tourism, municipal, revenue, public works department, and pollution control.
Dhotre says, “Zonal plans can put curbs on detrimental projects like coal mines in Bandar near Tadoba and Marki-Mangli in Pandharkawada, and other polluting industries being pushed in ESZ. The plan ensures holistic development of the area ensuring livelihood security of the people living in the area, including protection of their traditional rights and privileges.”
There is no monitoring committee and zonal master plan. There is no check on construction of hotels, resorts or any other buildings in the ESZ. The zonal plan is stamp on prohibited activities in ESZ like setting up of river valley projects, polluting industries, discharge of sewage and industrial effluents, use of plastic bags and setting up of hazardous waste processing units and commercial felling of trees.
The zonal plan provides for restoration of the denuded hill slopes, conservation of existing water bodies, management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater management, soil and moisture conservation, and such other aspects of ecology and environment that need attention.