Eco zones of 10 areas to be redrawn after SC orderEarlier, public resistance had forced reduction of ESZ to zero in protected areas

K.S. Sudhi KOCHI

The Ecological Sensitive Zones (ESZ) of at least 10 protected areas of Kerala, which were marked as zero following massive public resistance, will have to be extended to at least one kilometre following the Supreme Court order.

Data with the Forest department indicated that the ESZs of the wildlife sanctuaries of Idukki, Malabar, Kottiyoor, Wayanad, Neyyar-Peppara and Peechi-Vazhani, the Parambikulam and Periyar tiger reserves, Chulannur Peafowl Sanctuary and Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary that will have to be revised.

Periyar tiger reserve

In the case of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, the ESZ was zero in the north, north-east and eastern boundaries whereas it was 0.025 km to one km in its south-east, south, south-west, west and north-west boundaries. Justifying the demarcation, the department said that the north and north-east region of the reserve shared the forest boundaries of the Meghamalai wildlife sanctuary, Srivilliputhur giant squirrel sanctuary and the Thirunelveli Forest division of Tamil Nadu and hence the ESZ was zero in those directions.

In the case of the north-western boundary, the area was surrounded by continuous stretches of human habitations. The townships, spread over around 30 sq km, have had commercial and domestic establishments for over 40 years. Kumily, an international tourist destination and a commercial centre, is also the entry point to Kerala from Tamil Nadu. The Kollam-Madurai NH 183 passes through the township, it noted.

Tribal settlements

A large extent of human habitations existed in the western boundary of the core area of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve. There are also six tribal settlements in the area, forcing the authorities to go for zero ESZ.

The ESZ in the south-west and western region of the Wayanad sanctuary, which was packed with human habitations and farmland, was recorded as zero following massive public agitation. In Idukki, the ESZ was zero in some boundaries where agricultural lands, houses and shops were located.

The ESZ of a few other protected areas, which were lying contiguous to forests or sharing boundaries with other forest areas, were also marked as zero. Such zones will also have to be revised, indicated a senior Forest official. 

https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/MShareArticle?OrgId=GBF9T1UFG.1&imageview=0