(IN) Eco-Sensitive Wildlife Parks

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Haryana wildlife parks set to get eco-sensitive status

2 Jul 2009, 2114 hrs IST, PTI

 

 

NEW DELHI: There is good news for environmentalists and nature lovers.

 

A string of wildlife national parks and sanctuaries in Haryana are set to

recieve the 'Eco-Sensitive' status which would ensure a ban on anti-ecological

activities in their vicinity.

 

The Environment Ministry has recently issued draft notifications to declare as

'Eco Sensitive Zone' (ESZ) area upto five kilometers around protected areas of

as many as nine wildlife tourists hotspots including Kalesar and Bir Shikargah

sanctuaries in the state.

 

Wildlife sanctuaries Khol Hi Raitan, Nahar, Chil Chila, Abubshaher, Bhindawas

and Khaparwas have been identified under ESZ for conservation of flora and fauna

in view of increasing human activities and urbanisation in the region.

 

" As some of them are situated adjacent to the protected parks of the

neighbouring states as well within the states like Kalesar national park, their

ESZ status would go a long way in wildlife conservation in these ecological

fragile areas, " said Neeraj Khatri, deputy director, environment ministry.

 

As per draft notification, mining and industry that lead to water pollution,

will not be allowed while extraction of groundwater shall be permitted in the

ESZ's only for bonafide agricultural and domestic consumption of the occupier of

the plot after obtaining legal permission.

 

" Use of plastics within the ESZ would be regulated by the monitoring committee.

Even construction or felling of trees would not be allowed without permission in

the five kilometre area earmarked as ESZ. "

 

Kalesar National Park and Kalesar wildlife sanctuary spread over 100 acres are a

popular destination for bird watching, sharing boundaries with two protected

areas of Simbalbarha Wildlife Sanctuary of Himachal Pradesh and Rajaji National

Park of Uttarakhand.

 

" The entire area is very rich in plant and animal species and have historical

economic and medicinal significance while the Kalesar national park and

sanctuary is rich in reptilian fauna which includes large monitor lizard, Indian

rock python, King Cobra, common krait, Red snake, Russel Viper and Pit Viper, "

Khatri adds.

 

Khol Hi Raitan and adjacent Bir Shikargah willdife sanctuaries in the foothills

of Shivalik range in Panchkula district are home to leopards and other prey-base

such as cheetal, langur, hyena, jungle cat, common mongoose, Indian fox, jackal

and porcupine.

 

While Nahar wildlife sanctuary in the Rewari supports a good population of black

bucks, bucks, jackals, monitor lizards and such other small animals, Chili Chila

sprawled over 71 acres is a small depression and attracts wide-vareity of winter

migratory birds.

 

Abubshaher Wildlife Sanctuary represents a typical desert eco-system but there

is no plant found here which is endemic to this area and is known for its open

habitat of black bucks and due to increasing human activities may force some of

them leave the area in search of safer habitat, says Khatri.

 

Bhindawas wildlife sanctuary which is about 80 kilometers from Delhi attracts

around 35,000 variety of migratory birds belonging to over 250 species during

winter.

 

" Keeping in view water problem at Bharatpur national park of Rajasthan this

sanctuary provides an alternate wintering site to the migratory water fowls and

other feathered birds.

 

Like Bhindawas, nearby Khaparwas wildlife sanctuary is home to a large number of

migratory birds and once the area around is declared as ESZ we hope more and

more winged friends arriving in the park, " Khatri points out.