Chennai: Officials in the state department of environment and forests are reworking the proposal on Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESA). After the union environment ministry rejected the earlier proposal of the TN government on ESA, experts in the government are working on modifications to be included by adding new areas in the list and also increasing the buffer space for areas that were mentioned last time. They say they are preparing the report while attempting to do a balancing act between development projects and conservation of nature.
Speaking to DC on ESAs, chief wild life warden Lakshmi Narayan said, “ESAs are like pavements on the sides of a busy highway. If the ESAs are occupied, protected areas would be affected in no time. It is not possible in every case to demolish the development projects next to ESAs. But somewhere we have to find the balance.” He added that many wild animals are on the prowl in urban areas and townships because forest lands are being turned into human habitats.
When asked about the maintenance of a zero kilometre ESA around Guindy national park whereas the union ministry had asked for a ten-km buffer zone he said, “A case is on in the National Green Tribunal regarding the ESA maintenance of Guindy park. Till the union ministry finalises the ESA requirements, ten kms norm would be observed in all areas including the Guindy park.”
