Kawardha. The land falling within ten kilometers of the boundaries of Bhoramdev Sanctuary of the district will be protected as Eco Sensitive Zone. The purpose of Eco Sensitive Zone is only to regulate activities for the environment, wildlife and biodiversity. On 9 October 2023, Gazette of India No. From 4210 onwards, a draft notification has been issued to declare the border areas as ESZ for Bhoramdev Sanctuary. The general public has been given a period of 60 days from the date of publication for objection or suggestion. This notification is not going to have any impact on the activities currently being carried out by the villagers on the land falling within the ESZ area. The purpose of ESZ is only to regulate activities for the conservation of environment, wildlife and biodiversity, so that the conservation and promotion of biodiversity of the sanctuary continues at an uninterrupted pace.
Following the instructions of the Supreme Court and MoEFCC, the proposal for ESZ was prepared and sent to the Government of India. The draft notification was published by the Government of India on 9 October 2023. In this notification, 24 villages have been taken under ESZ. Due to this, the misconception spread among the general public that such a notification has been issued to declare Bhoramdev Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve. This misconception is completely false. At present, no proposal has been sent by the Forest Department of Chhattisgarh Government to make Bhoramdev Sanctuary a Tiger Reserve, nor is there any plan to prepare a proposal. Similarly, there is no provision in the notification of ESZ to displace any village nor is it the process of creating a tiger reserve. Forest Divisional Officer Chudamani Singh said that Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) means that the environment and biological An area where various activities can be prohibited or regulated to protect diversity. Activities like commercial mining, polluting industries, setting up of brick kilns, setting up of sawmills, solid waste disposal sites etc. are prohibited. Activities like establishment, construction etc. of resorts will remain regulated, while activities like rain water harvesting, skill development, organic farming etc. are allowed. Only activities in the ESZ zone are regulated. There is no change in the boundaries of the sanctuary when ESZ is declared.
It is noteworthy that the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has stipulated that under the Environment Protection Act 1986, the State Governments should provide protection to animals falling within 10 kilometers of the boundaries of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The land should be declared eco-sensitive zone or eco-sensitive area (ESJRD).
Forest Divisional Officer Singh said that the Supreme Court has also given its various decisions in IA No. 1000 of 2003, IA No. 1512 of 2006, I.No. Has supported the instructions of MOEFCC in 1992 of 2007 etc. Also, all the states were directed to prepare and send proposals for notifying the areas bordering all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as ESZ. For the protection of forests, wildlife and environment, the Supreme Court has directed to make an area up to 10 kilometers from the boundary of the sanctuary as ESZ. States can increase or decrease the limit of ESZ by 10 kilometers depending on the suitability of their area.
Bhoramdev Sanctuary was notified in 2001 and expanded in 2007. It has been named after Bhoramdev Temple, a place of historical importance of Chhattisgarh archaeological, religious and tourist importance. The sanctuary area extends over an area of 352 square km. Its core area is 160 square km and buffer area is 192 km. A total of 29 villages are situated in Bhoramdev Sanctuary area. In Bhoramdev Sanctuary, various types of wild animals are mainly present like leopard, bear, hyena, nilgai, wild dog, gaur, wolf, wild cat, fox, chital, kotri, sambar, langur, mongoose, rabbit, peacock, wild cock, owl etc. Is. Bhoramdev Sanctuary is situated as a wildlife corridor between Kanha National Park and Achanakmar Tiger Reserve. Wild animals migrate from Kanha to Achanakmar via Bhoramdev Sanctuary.
