Protective ring around wetland

As per a recommendation, the ‘eco-sensitive zone’ around Okhla Bird Sanctuary will vary from 100 to 1200 metres

The “eco-sensitive zone” around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary will vary from 100 metres to the west of the sanctuary to 1,200 metres in the north, according to Forest Department officials. A three-member team comprising Joint Director (Wildlife) Shiv Pal Singh and two members from the Forest Department of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh visited the site on June 27 and submitted their recommendations.

As per a directive issued by the National Board for Wildlife in 2005, a radius of 10 km around sanctuaries – which in the instance of Okhla will affect a number of proposed real estate projects – is to be considered an eco-sensitive zone. The State governments were asked to notify their own norms for the same, but till last year the UP government had not done so with respect to the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, that comprises wetlands along the Yamuna. This area attracts several hundred species of birds and was notified as a protected area in 1990.

“The area to the north of the sanctuary up till the DND flyover is a good wetland and requires protection. To the west, we recommended that this zone may be up to 100 metres till Abul Fazal Road as this area has older habitations, and it will be not be feasible to notify a larger area here under eco-sensitive zone,” a senior official told

The Hindu . To the west of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary, a 100 metre zone would suffice to protect the bird sanctuary, said the official. A number of multistorey buildings, furniture, and poultry shops will be affected by the proposal.

The process of preliminary and final notification by the Ministry of Environment and Forest may take two to three months, said officials. The eco-sensitive zone will consist of three zones – prohibited, permitted, and regulated zones with different norms for noise levels, etc. applicable to each zone.

In October 2013, after a petition was filed by Amit Kumar, the NGT had passed orders that no construction activity be permitted within 10 km radius of the Okhla Bird Sanctuary and for projects already completed, the construction shall be subject to final order passed by the Tribunal and the authority shall not give any completion certificate to such constructed buildings. For buildings half-way through, the construction was allowed to go on, subject to final order to be passed by the Tribunal. At present, no new projects within 10 km radius of Okhla Bird Sanctuary can be cleared unless the National Board for Wildlife (NBW) has given a no objection certificate and this will continue to be in place till the final notification comes into place.

Noida Authority officials agree with the Uttar Pradesh government’s proposal of fixing the eco-sensitive zone around the sanctuary at 100 metres.

“The ball is now in the court of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. There are about 17-20 builders who are in the 10 km radius and have completed their construction. The end buyers can move in tomorrow, but because of the stay we cannot allow possession,” said Manoj Rai, an officer on special duty with the Noida Authority.