SC panel summons govt officials over ‘ESZ violation' in Satkosia reserve
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Bhubaneswar: Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has summoned the state chief secretary, Manoj Ahuja, tourism secretary, Balwant Singh, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) and head of forest force, Suresh Pant, and PCCF (wildlife), Prem Kumar Jha, to attend in person before it on July 17.
They are required to explain the alleged violation of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) in Satkosia Tiger Reserve as per the tourism department's master plan.
The CEC has also mentioned in its July 3 letter to the chief secretary that they will have to explain the plan on constructing a two-lane national highway over Chilika Lake and a bridge over the Mahanadi river near Baliput in the eco-sensitive Satkosia. Based on the CEC letter, forest department communicated to the departments concerned on Sunday to appear before the SC panel as revealed by the govt letter dated July 5.
The CEC letter to the chief secretary stated, "With reference to proceedings of the meeting on the master plan on tourism, land bank and HR issues held on May 30, relating to tourism projects, forest clearances and eco-sensitive zones and the requirement of approval of the tourism department in the finalisation of ESZ, you are requested to attend the meeting on July 17 in the CEC office, New Delhi."
Earlier, CEC had sought a response from the chief secretary regarding alleged eco-sensitive zone violations, referring to the draft proposal of Satkosia's wildlife wing.
Satkosia Abhayaranya and Praja Surkshya Samiti (SAPSS), which filed the petition in the apex court, stated that Satkosia is a Ramsar convention site and the forest department is attempting to modify the 2011 ESZ norm to allow tourism department to undertake massive projects in the core area. Towards the Baliput area, the ESZ has been reduced to zero to pave way for construction activities. "This will facilitate the mushrooming of hotels on the edge of Satkosia gorge, thus encouraging commercial hotels to make their interest prevail over conservation.
This will also completely disturb the nesting of birds and the basking of crocodiles on sandbars in both Baliput and Badmul ends," wildlife conservationist Prasanna Behera said.
"Outside the boundary of Satkosia, at least 1km of ESZ should be maintained where no construction and tourism activities can take place. If the ESZ is made zero, the biodiversity of Satkosia gorge, which is home to endangered gharials, will perish fast," he added.
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