Haryana to create eco-sensitive zones near sanctuaries

Giving a boost to its forestry and wildlife, Haryana is all set to declare the distance of up to 5,000 metres surrounding its major national parks and wildlife sanctuaries as eco-sensitive zones.

"After the lapse of so many years, our efforts for sustainable development and environment protection has resulted in a draft notification of 10 eco-sensitive zones (surrounding two national parks and eight wildlife sanctuaries) in the state by the union ministry of forest and environment," Haryana Minister of Forests and Environment Kiran Choudhry told reporters here Friday.

She added: "I was fighting with the authorities and various people for the last four years to save our national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Now I am glad and content."

Choudhry said the state government had sent various letters and reminders to the concerned central ministry to declare the area surrounding wildlife sanctuaries in the state as high eco-sensitive zones.

It had demanded that there should be no highly polluting industry in the radius of 5,000 meters of the wildlife area. There should be no crushing activity and wood based industry in the radius of 2,000 meters.

Haryana also demanded ban on any sort of mining activity and construction of a building or house of up to two storeys in the surrounding area of the forest.

Last updated on Jul 3^rd, 2009 at 22:58 pm IST--IANS