​Masterplan to protect eco-sensitive zones in Karnataka sanctuaries

Bengaluru: The Forest Department has finally moved to fix the gaps in the management of about 45 protected areas in Karnataka by seeking master plans to manage the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of such areas.

The protected areas consist of wildlife sanctuaries and tiger reserves. For sanctuaries, ESZs notified under Environment (Protection) Act provide a shock-absorbing effect by regulating human activities by a monitoring committee. In tiger reserves, the buffer zone is notified and managed as per the tiger conservation plan of Wildlife (Protection) Act. Some sanctuaries that gave birth to tiger reserves, for instance Bhadra, have ESZs that stretch the buffer zone.

Senior officials in the department said while the tiger reserves enjoy better security, the sanctuaries see repeated violation of the ESZ rules due to the problems associated with the commercial activities which have mushroomed in the last two decades.

“As Nagarahole-Bandipur landscape got saturated, we have seen an increasing number of commercial activities in the ESZs of sanctuaries spread across Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga landscape in recent years. The department has not been able to regulate them effectively,” an official noted.

​No ZMP till now

Sources said none of the sanctuaries has Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) though the state government is duty-bound to prepare the same within two years from the date of the publication of the ESZ notification.

The matter is further complicated by the fact that many sanctuaries do not even have ESZ and are only protected due to the Supreme Court order on the default ESZ.

To a question, the official pointed to the procedure for preparing the ZMP. “It’s not a document prepared by the Forest Department unilaterally. The ZMP should be prepared in consultation with Revenue, urban development, rural development, agriculture, panchayat raj, tourism, PWD and others. This is a process that requires a lot of planning and discussions, if the ZMP has to be comprehensive and effective,” he said.

The ESZ monitoring committees, headed by the regional commissioners, have to take up the consultation with the other departments to finalise the master plan. The entire exercise has to be coordinated by the Environment Department.

DH reached out to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Kumar Pushkar for a comment. The officer acknowledged the challenge. “The department has recently flagged the issue. I will take it up again with the government for necessary directions to the department concerned,” Pushkar said.

Secretary, Environment Department, Srinivasulu was not available for a comment.