BRT to have eco sensitive zone soon

The State Government on Friday submitted in the High Court that Biligiriranganatha Swamy Tiger Reserve (BRT) will soon have a ecologically sensitive zone (ESZ).

 The government made this submission during the hearing of a petition challenging the Forest department’s denial of permission for a quarry. The permission was rejected on the grounds that the quarry falls within the 10 kms radius outside the tiger reserve where non-forest activities cannot be allowed.

Senior counsel Ashok Harnahalli submitted that though the State claims that the quarry is in the vicinity of the tiger reserve, government is yet to declare ESZ as per the Supreme Court order.

“There is no notification as such declaring ESZ. If they are serious about protecting the tiger reserve, let them declare the buffer zone as directed by the Supreme Court,” he said. He also mentioned that despite the apex court order, very few states have declared ESZ around tiger reserves.

Government counsel R G Kolle submitted that the process is on to declare ESZ and the State has already come out with a draft notification. “The final notification will be out soon,” he said.

The division benchcomprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagrathna adjourned the matter with a direction to furnish the draft copy along with related documents.