Centre grants environmental clearance to 43 projects in eco-sensitive zones over the last 5 years

• Minister Choubey informed Rajya Sabha that out of 53 project proposals submitted for eco-sensitive zones in the last five years
• Over the same period, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) approved 689 project proposals within protected areas
• The minister emphasized that projects in notified eco-sensitive zones are governed by the respective ESZ notifications

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change revealed in a response to Rajya Sabha that the Centre has permitted 43 projects within eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) over the past five years. The Minister of State for Environment, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, shared this information during discussions with Trinamool Congress MP Jawhar Sircar. Eco-sensitive zones are delineated within a 10-km radius of protected areas, and these zones aim to safeguard wildlife habitats and corridors.

Experts, including Debadityo Sinha from Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, emphasize the need to explore alternatives to projects that disrupt wildlife habitats and corridors. With just over 5% of the landmass designated as Wildlife Protected Areas, there is a growing concern that isolated pockets surrounded by human settlements and infrastructure pose a significant threat to various species. The experts call for measures to protect and preserve natural habitats and migration routes to ensure the survival of vulnerable species.