The Environment Ministry has declared two kilometres area from North to South all along the western boundary of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh an eco-sensitive zone and banned mining activities there.
"The central government notifies an area of two kilometres from north to south all along the western boundary of the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary in Andhra Pradesh as an eco-sensitive xone under various sections of Environment (Protection) Rules 1986," the notification on the ministry website said.
"All new and existing mining (minor and major minerals), stone quarrying and crushing units are prohibited in the ESZ," a draft notification said.
The draft notification further said that from the boundary of the sanctuary upto a distance of 100 metres in the ESZ, no new construction will be allowed.
The ministry has also prohibited the construction of any building more than two storeys in the ESZ falling between 100-500 metres from the boundary of the sanctuary.
No aqua culture either brackish water or fresh water aqua culture is permitted within the eco-sensitive zone.
The government will constitute a state-level eco-sensitive zone monitoring committec (SESZMC) for Andhra Pradesh for effectiye monitoring of the ESZ. The committee will comprise the chief secretary of the state as chariman amongst other officials from various sectors.
The ministry notification added a zonal master plan will be prepared in consultation with local people for effective management of the ESZ within a period of two years. The plan shall be prepared also with the involvement of all concerned state departments and other sectors.
"The zonal master plan will act as a reference document for the SESZMC for carrying out its functions of monitoring under the provisions of this notification," the notification added.
The SESZMC shall monitor the compliance of the provisions of this notification.
