Panchkula area around Sukhna Lake declared eco-sensitive zone

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has officially declared a zone spanning from 1 km to 2.035 km around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary in Panchkula, Haryana, as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) to curb environmental pollution. The ministry dismissed the Haryana Government’s request to limit the ESZ to just 1 km from the sanctuary.

Extent and Boundaries

The eco-sensitive zone generally extends 1 km from the sanctuary’s boundary on the Haryana side. However, it reaches 2 km in the northern reserved forest. On the eastern side, the ESZ remains at 1 km along the reserved forest’s boundary but expands on the southeast to align with the reserved forest’s limits. Overall, the ESZ covers an area of 24.60 sq km.

The total ESZ area measures 6,078.98 acres (2,460.07 hectares), incorporating areas such as Sector 1, parts of Sectors 2 and 3 (including Gymkhana Club under HSVP), paragliding parks, tubewell chambers, sections of the Mansa Devi Complex (MDC) in Sector 1, the Chandimandir Cantonment (including the military firing range), and parts of the Panchkula Municipal Corporation. Out of the 10 villages included, Saketri and Prempura lie within a 700 m radius from the sanctuary.

Banned and Regulated Activities

Activities in the ESZ are regulated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Prohibited actions include commercial mining, stone quarrying, setting up polluting industries, establishing new sawmills, using hazardous substances, discharging untreated waste into water bodies, and using firewood commercially.

The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, managed by the Chandigarh Administration, borders Punjab and Haryana and is located in the Shivalik foothills, an ecologically sensitive and geologically fragile area. Spanning 25.9849 sq km, it was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1998 to protect its diverse wildlife and habitat.

In 2020, the Punjab and Haryana High Court recognized Sukhna Lake as a living entity and ordered the Environment Ministry to designate at least a 1 km buffer zone around the sanctuary in both states as an ESZ.

Path Cleared for Haryana Vidhan Sabha Construction

Gian Chand Gupta, former Haryana Speaker, announced that the ministry has approved environmental and forest clearance for 12 acres in Saketri. This land will be exchanged for 10 acres designated for the new Haryana Assembly building near the railway station light point in Chandigarh. The Saketri land lies outside the ESZ boundaries. Gupta highlighted his efforts with Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Shah, and former Chief Minister Khattar to secure this approval. The land allocation for the new Assembly building was confirmed by Amit Shah on July 9, 2022.

Important Points:

• Eco-Sensitive Zone Notification: The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has designated an area from 1 km to 2.035 km around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary in Panchkula as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) to control and prevent environmental pollution.
• Haryana Government’s Proposal Rejected: The Ministry denied Haryana’s request to limit the ESZ to 1 km from the sanctuary boundary.
• Geographical Coverage: The ESZ covers a total area of 24.60 sq km, extending up to 2 km in the northern reserved forest area and 1 km along most of the eastern side, with some expansions in the southeast.
• Included Areas: The ESZ includes parts of Panchkula such as Sector 1, sections of Sectors 2 and 3, Gymkhana Club under HSVP, paragliding parks, parts of Mansa Devi Complex, Chandimandir Cantonment, and sections of the Panchkula Municipal Corporation.
• Villages in the ESZ: Of the 10 villages impacted, Saketri and Prempura are within 700 m of the sanctuary boundary.
• Prohibited Activities: Activities like commercial mining, stone quarrying, polluting industries, sawmills, use of hazardous substances, and discharge of untreated effluents are banned in the ESZ.
• Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary: Managed by the Chandigarh Administration, the sanctuary covers 25.9849 sq km in the ecologically sensitive Shivalik foothills and was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1998.
• High Court Directive: The Punjab and Haryana High Court recognized Sukhna Lake as a living entity in 2020, mandating a minimum 1 km ESZ around the sanctuary.
• Vidhan Sabha Construction Clearance: The Ministry granted environmental clearance for 12 acres in Saketri, outside the ESZ, for the construction of the new Haryana Assembly building.