Environment Ministry's strict stand on eco-sensitive zones casts shadow over Kaziranga hotel project

New Delhi: The Union environment ministry informed the Lok Sabha on Monday that no new permanent structures will be allowed in eco-sensitive zones of forest reserves and lands, as per a Supreme Court order.

The Union environment ministry's statement was issued at a time when the Assam government was collaborating with Tata and Hayat groups on the construction of five-star hotels in the vicinity of Kaziranga National Park.

Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh made this clarification in response to a query about the construction of hotels and resorts in buffer zones and catchment areas of lakes.

He cited a Supreme Court order from June 3, 2022, which imposed a blanket ban on new permanent structures within eco-sensitive zones (ESZs). While a subsequent order on April 26, 2023, provided some relaxations, strict adherence to the ministry's 2011 guidelines is mandatory.

Lok Sabha MP Hanuman Beniwal raised concerns about illegal constructions in the Sariska tiger reserve and Siliserh Lake catchment area in Rajasthan. The minister emphasized the states' responsibility to comply with the Supreme Court order and the ministry's guidelines for protecting forest areas, including ESZs.

Addressing another issue, Minister Singh acknowledged the vulnerability of hill stations to climate change due to unregulated tourism.

He warned that uncontrolled development, deforestation, and alteration of natural water flow can increase the risk of landslides and erosion. The government is investing in research through institutions like the GB Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and the National Mission on Himalayan Studies to address these challenges.

The minister also shared data on the human and animal toll of hydrometeorological disasters in 2023-24, highlighting the severity of the situation in states like Bihar and Himachal Pradesh.