Asks ministry to take its consent before approving eco-sensitive zone Taking a tough stand on the proposal of the Punjab Government to reduce the radius of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary, the UT Administration has written to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) stating that before approving the proposal, the ministry must take its consent. A senior official of the Administration said they had taken the stand that since the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary was in the UT, they had the right to protect it. The Punjab Government’s proposal to reduce the radius of the ESZ to 100 metres would ultimately harm the sanctuary and its wildlife, he said. The Administration and the Punjab Government had submitted ESZ proposals to the ministry last year. In its draft, the Administration had proposed an area ranging from 2 km to 2.75 km as the ESZ around the sanctuary. On the other hand, the Punjab Government had reduced the radius of the ESZ to 100 metres in its proposal sent to the ministry. UT Chief Conservator of Forests Santosh Kumar said they had submitted their viewpoint to the ministry, which would take the final call on the issue. The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 26 sq km. According to UT officials, the catchment area around the sanctuary is around 36 "running kilometres". Of the total catchment area, about 2 km falls under the jurisdiction of the Administration, while the rest is under the jurisdiction of Punjab and Haryana. In its draft, the Administration has proposed an area ranging from 2 km to 2.75 km as the ESZ around the sanctuary. Low-density and low-rise buildings are proposed in the area falling in the ESZ. “No mining or hazardous industry should be permitted in the ESZ, no expansion of the road outside the sanctuary should be allowed, no deep bore well should be dug for commercial/large-scale users and all existing water bodies and indigenous floral and faunal diversity within the zone should be protected,” the Administration’s ESZ draft states. On the other hand, the Punjab Government has reduced the radius of the ESZ to 100 metres in its proposal sent to the ministry. Haryana to submit proposal As the UT and Punjab have already submitted their proposal, now Haryana will also submit its proposal. Recently, at a meeting between officials of the UT, Punjab and Haryana on the ESZ, Haryana had submitted that it would also submit a proposal. Sources said during the meeting, Punjab was not ready to reduce the radius of the ESZ.