P. Oppili Total population in the wild will be a mere 1,400 CHENNAI: A sanctuary for ghariyals (fresh water crocodiles) spread over 1,600 sq km will be created along the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to protect the species from extinction, Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said here on Monday. Speaking to journalists at the Crocodile Bank here, Mr. Ramesh said a three-State authority had been formed for the purpose. The Ministry had approved the proposal and allotted Rs 8 crore. At present, there were only 200 breeding adult ghariyals and their total population in the wild would be a mere 1,400. The sanctuary would help stabilise the population. A former Judge of the Supreme Court would be appointed chairman of the National Green Tribunal, Mr. Ramesh said. India would be the fourth country to have formed such a tribunal, which would handle civil cases relating to environment and forests. The final draft proposal of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2010 would be ready soon. It would balance development and conservation. Separate provisions had been added to the draft policy, taking into account the requirement of each State, Mr. Ramesh said. As for violations pertaining to CRZ 1991, the Ministry would not condone them or allow their regularisation.