Final eco-sensitive zone notification for Similipal remains stalled as Centre cites state delays
Seven years after a draft was issued, the Union environment ministry says the eco-sensitive zone around Similipal tiger reserve is still pending because Odisha has not supplied required information.
A draft eco-sensitive zone surrounding Similipal Tiger Reserve and Hadgarh Wildlife Sanctuary was prepared in January 2019, yet the final notification remains unissued after seven years. The Union environment ministry filed an affidavit with the National Green Tribunal, explaining that Odisha has repeatedly failed to provide essential information despite several reminders. The ministry requested the ESZ proposal in editable format, precise boundary measurements, and recent gazette notifications, but the state did not comply.
Earlier expert committee meetings highlighted inconsistencies in the protected area’s limits and called for detailed maps and village lists. The ministry asserts that complete data, public objections, expert input, and legal vetting are prerequisites for finalizing the ESZ, which would restrict commercial activities within a 10-km buffer zone.
Why it matters
Delays in defining the eco-sensitive zone hinder protection measures for a key tiger habitat and affect regional development plans.
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