Bandipur forest set to become eco-sensitive zone

BANGALORE: Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve would be the first eco-sensitive zone in the state and second in the country once the notification is issued by the Central Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF).Swaminath M H, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) said, “A proposed draft notification has been sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forest. We are expecting the approval and final notification within this week.” After Sultanpur National Park in Gurgaon, Bandipur will be the second national park to be declared as an ecosensitive zone in the country and the first one in the state.This initiative has been taken up following the new guidelines of MOEF for creating eco-sensitive zones around protected areas, consisting of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. It is aimed at preventing ecological damages caused due to developmental activities and minimising the negative impact of such activities on the fragile ecosystem.According to the zonal master plan for Bandipur eco-sensitive zone - 15 villages fall under Gundlupet Taluk and three notified reserved forests fall under Zone 1. Another 108 villages under H D Kote, Nanjangud, Gundlupet and Chamrajnagar Taluks and 13 reserve forests comprising of 100 acres in the Kotekere village of HD Kote taluk falls under Zone 2.Following the MOEF guidelines, commercial mining and quarrying, stone quarrying and crushers, establishment of industries, saw mills, major hydroelectric projects, widening of state highways/major district roads, livestock and poultry farms, use of polythene bags, discharge of effluents and solid waste in natural bodies and erection of high tension power transmission lines will be prohibited in these zones.A monitoring committee consisting of a representative each from the MOEF, State Pollution Control Board, State Department of Environment and Urban Development, Chief Wildlife Warden, subject expert with knowledge of eco-sensitive zone and one representative from an NGO working in the field of environment and the Deputy Commissioners of Chamarajanagar and Mysore districts0 will be formed.“Establishment of commercial hotels and resorts will be prohibited in Zone 1.Establishment of new industrial unit in Zone 2 shall be regulated by the monitoring committee,” said Swaminath.Felling of trees will be regulated in accordance with the Karnataka Forest Act and Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act. Further, rain water harvesting, organic farming, ongoing agricultural and horticulture practices by local communities, adoption of green technologies for all activities will be permitted in these zones.In addition, tourism activities in the area shall be encouraged with emphasis on eco-tourism, eco-education and eco-development.The plan will be prepared by the Department of Tourism, Karnataka in consultation with the Central Ministry of Tourism with approval from the MOEF.Speaking to The New Indian Express Swaminath said, “Following Bandipur, we are now revising the plan for Nagarhole eco-sensitive zone. Very soon we will be sending the draft to MOEF.” The Bandipur National Park and Tiger Reserve area has a total area of 912.04 sq kms. Situated around Mysore and Chamrajnagar districts, it is one among the five National parks and 23 Wildlife sanctuaries declared as protected areas in the State.The Bandipur Tiger Reserve along with Nagarhole, Mudumalai and Wyanad protected areas, has the highest breeding population of wild tigers amongst the 13 tiger range countries in the world. Important perennial rivers - Kabini, Moyar and Nugu forms part of it.