`Go green’: J&K sets two-year deadline for framing new Zonal Master Plan for wildlife habitations

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration has set a two-year deadline for framing Zonal Master Plan for wildlife habitations in the valley.

The government has aligned at least 12 departments for integrating ecological and environmental considerations into the Zonal Master Plan

“The Zonal Master Plan shall be prepared in consultation with the following state concerned State Departments including Environment, Forests, Agriculture, Revenue, Urban Development, Tourism, Rural Development, Irrigation & Flood Control, Pollution Control Board, Municipal, Panchayati Raj and Public Works Department,” a draft proposal accessed by The Kashmir Monitor said.

Under the new Zonal Master plan focus areas include restoration of denuded areas, conservation of existing water bodies, management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater management, and soil conservation.

“The Zonal Master Plan shall demarcate all the existing worshipping places, village and urban settlements, types and kinds of forests, tribal areas, agricultural areas, fertile lands, green areas, such as parks and like places, horticultural areas, orchards, lakes, and other water bodies. The Zonal Master Plan shall regulate development in Eco-sensitive Zone to ensure eco-friendly development for livelihood security of local communities,” the proposal said.

As per the Zonal Master Plan proposal, certain activities including mining, setting of new sawmills and new category industries, major hydroelectric project, brick kilns ad single-use plastic has been prohibited.

“However, felling of green trees, establishment resorts of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural water resources including groundwater harvesting, construction and widening of pucca roads, the introduction of exotic species and all other activities not specified as prohibited or permitted activity have been categorized under regulated activities,” it said.

Officials said that the declaration of Zonal Master Plans is a long-term conservation plan for many animal, bird, and plant species.

“We have many species of animals, birds, and plants which are declared as endangered. So, through this Zonal Master Plan various measures will be taken to conserve them while simultaneously increasing their population in the said zones,” they said.

Last year, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), had issued a draft notification for declaring Eco Sensitive Zone around Dachigam National Park, Aru Wildlife Sanctuary, and Thajwas Wildlife Sanctuary.

After the 47th and  48th meetings of the Expert Committee, a proposal with a minimum extent of Eco-Sensitive Zone 1 Km and a maximum extent of ESZ 13.8 Kilometers has been formulated by the Department of Wildlife Protection, J&K.

Before it, a proposal was deliberated upon by the committee and approved with an Eco-Sensitive Zone extent from 200 meters to 13.15 Km.

However, the Supreme Court had directed all the States/ UTs that the extent of Eco Sensitive Zone around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries must be a minimum of 1 Km.