Government Approves 43 Projects in Eco-Sensitive Zones Over 5 Years

Union Minister Ashwini Choubey revealed to the Rajya Sabha that the Centre has granted environmental clearance to more than 80% of proposals for "projects and activities" within the eco-sensitive zones of the country over the past five years. He also disclosed that the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) recommended a total of 689 proposals during this period.

The minister highlighted that the Ministry of Environment approved 43 out of the 53 proposals received over the past five years for "projects/activities" in the default eco-sensitive zones (ESZs), as per the provisions of the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006. ESZs are designated as eco-fragile areas within 10 kilometers of the borders of protected areas, which include national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

Government data indicates that SCNBWL recommended 153 proposals in 2018-19, 71 in 2019-20, 85 in 2020-21, 149 in 2021-22, and 231 in 2022-23.

ET