44.24 Sq Km Around Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary Declared Eco-Sensitive Zone; Inhabited Areas Included in Zone

Malappuram: An area of 44.24 square kilometres surrounding the Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary has been declared an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued the notification.

The ESZ extends from zero to 3.40 kilometres in different directions from the sanctuary boundary. Forest areas under the Karulai, Kalikavu and Vazhikkadavu forest ranges will be included in the ESZ.

Habitation areas included

The ESZ extends between 0.6 and one kilometre on the southwestern side. The notification states that inhabited areas are located in this region. The area shares a boundary with the buffer zone of Silent Valley National Park.

However, the notification does not specify which inhabited areas are included. This has raised concerns over whether areas including T K Colony will fall within the ESZ. Annexure IV of the notification states that the four villages of Vazhikkadavu, Moothedam, Karulai and Amarambalam are included in the ESZ.

Restrictions in three categories

Prohibited: Commercial mining, stone quarries, crusher units, new polluting industries and expansion of existing polluting industries have been prohibited. Large hydropower projects, use of hazardous substances, discharge of untreated wastewater, solid waste disposal sites, large-scale commercial livestock and poultry farms, new sawmills, expansion of existing sawmills and brick kilns are also prohibited.

Permitted with restrictions: New commercial hotels, resorts and commercial construction will not be permitted up to one kilometre from the protected area boundary, or up to the ESZ boundary if it is located closer than one kilometre.

However, local residents can construct buildings for residential purposes on their own land, subject to applicable building rules and approvals. Small non-polluting industries, tree felling, collection of forest produce, road development, electricity and communication infrastructure, use of wells and borewells, agriculture, horticulture, dairy development and aquaculture will be subject to restrictions and the required permissions.

Promoted: Activities such as rainwater harvesting, organic farming, green technology, cottage industries, solar energy, biogas, agroforestry, horticulture, medicinal plant cultivation, eco-friendly transport, skill development, habitat restoration and environmental awareness will be promoted.

Master plan within two years

The state government must prepare a zonal master plan within two years. The plan must be prepared in consultation with local residents and the departments concerned.

Until the master plan is prepared and approved, new construction and development activities will be subject to the consideration and recommendation of a monitoring committee.

A monitoring committee chaired by the Malappuram District Collector will be formed to oversee compliance with the ESZ provisions. The committee will include the District Panchayat president, a representative of an NGO working in the environmental and wildlife sector, an environmental science expert, a representative of the State Biodiversity Board and a representative of the Pollution Control Board.

The Divisional Forest Officer of the Nilambur South Division will be the member secretary. The notification does not include the area's MLA as a member of the committee.