Karnataka: Govt proposes to reduce BNP’s ecosensitive-zone by 36%; green activists worry

BENGALURU: In a major threat to Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), which is home to many endangered wildlife species, including tigers, leopards and elephants, the government has recommended reduction of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the forest by about 100 sqkm.
The ESZ acts as a buffer zone where certain activities like mining are prohibited and some others like construction are regulated to conserve the forest area.
In his letter dated November 27, 2019, additional chief secretary to the Karnataka department of forests, environment and ecology conveyed to the Centre that a cabinet sub-committee constituted to look into the issue has approved a draft final notification fixing the Bannerghatta ESZ area at 168 sqkm.
Several environmental organisations and activists had been demanding that the state government retain the original proposal of 2016 that the ESZ would be spread over 268 sqkm. They wanted the government to retain the larger ESZ in view of the elephant corridors and to protect the region’s overall ecology.
Union minister of state for forests, environment and climate change Babul Supriyo confirmed the developments related to the Bannerghatta ESZ in response to an unstarred question raised by Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya.
The 2016 proposal had envisaged that a 100metre to 4.5km wide area around the BNP boundary would be a ‘safe zone’ where mining would be banned. Such a zone is maintained under Rule 3(2) of Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rule 1960. However, the current proposal limits it to the existing width of 1km.
Activists: Quarries will be back
Activists say reducing the safe zone size will open flood gates to stone quarries and crushers around the park. Such operations have not been allowed in the region for over a year now.
“In June 2018, the department of mines and geology had stopped operations of about 45 large quarries around Bannerghatta. The move followed a Union government directive to maintain a 10km wide area around national parks and other protected areas as de facto buffer zone till the actual ESZ is declared for the said forest area. Now, with the government deciding to reduce the buffer zone, these quarries will be back in business,” lamented an activist.
Panel to screen infra proposals
A senior official from the forest department said while activities like mining are banned in the safe zone, development of resorts, hotels, buildings and roads is allowed, provided the owners have permission from the departments concerned. A monitoring committee, to be formed once the final notification is out, will screen such proposals.
The district deputy commissioner will be the committee chairman and deputy conservator of forests, BNP, the member-secretary.
The activist blamed the mining and real estate lobby for shrinking of the buffer zone. “While several apartments and layouts have already come up in the region, there are more in the pipeline. The government itself, through the Karnataka Housing Board, is developing a huge township a few kilometres away from the park boundary. There is little concern about the forest and wildlife,” he noted.
MP: Will ask CM to relook issue
Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who had been batting for retaining the entire 268 sqkm area as the ESZ, said the park is critical for sustainable development of the entire Bengaluru Metropolitan Region. “I will write to the chief minister to reconsider the decision pertaining to the ESZ. I will also urge him to hold an open consultation before taking a final call,” he told TOI.