Maha: 59.46 sq km around SGNP notified as eco-sensitive zone

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry has notified an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).
The final notification has been issued for an eco-sensitive zone of 59.46 sq kms of which 19.25 sq km is forest land and 40.21 sq km is non-forest land.
The ESZ has a minimum extent of 100 metres and maximum extent of up to 4 km from the Park boundary, an official release said today.
The objective of notifying eco-sensitive zones is to create a buffer as further protection around Protected Areas (PAs) such as National Parks and Wildlife sanctuaries.
The notification also provides that in areas around housing societies and with high human habitation, and in view of the fact that the national park has a large population of leopards, a high wall with fencing may be erected to ensure that man-animal conflict is avoided, it added.

The Ministry had received a large number of responses from elected representatives, various organisations and agencies such as the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation and others on the draft notification.

Taking these into consideration, an area of 1.65 sq km land for the Mumbai Metro Rail Shed of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, temple etc has been excluded in the final notification published on yesterday.
Due to its unique location in the middle of a bustling city, any new construction within ESZ shall be in accordance with Mumbai municipal bye-laws and approved development plans and applicable laws and regulations under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act and vide provisions of the ESZ notification.

SGNP is spread over three districts - Palgar, Thane and Mumbai Suburb. It is home to a number of endangered species of flora and fauna and harbours approximately 800 species of flowering plants, 45 species of mammals, 43 species of reptiles, 38 species of snakes, 12 species of amphibians, 300 species of birds, 150 species of butterflies.