About Eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) • ESZ or Ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) are ecologically important

and fragile areas around protected areas designated to be protected from industrial pollution and
unregulated development under the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986. • It is notified by
Central Government, i.e. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), under
Environment Protection Act, 1986. • Background of ESZs in India: o 2002: ‘Wildlife Conservation
Strategy2002’ was adopted envisaging lands falling within 10 Kms of the boundaries of National
Parks and Sanctuaries to be notified as Eco fragile zones. ✓ All the Chief Wildlife Wardens were
requested for listing outsuch areas for notification as eco-sensitive areas. ✓ Many states didn’t
comply due to concerns regarding impact of ESZ on habitations and developmental activities. o
2005: Addressing concerns of the states, National Board of wildlife decided that delineation of ESZs
should be site specific and related to regulation, rather than prohibition, of specific activities. o 2006:
In Goa Foundation v. Union of India, the SC ordered all States/UTs to comply to 2005 order. ✓ The
court also contemplated notification of the areas within 10 km of the boundaries of the PAs as ESZs
if there is delay in site-specific preparation of ESZ for individual States/Union Territories. o 2011: The
‘Guidelines for declaration of ESZ around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries’ were notified by
MoEFCC to deal with the process and procedures to be adopted for declaring ESZ. • Statutory
Provisions related to declaration of ESZs are dealt in Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, Environment
(Protection) Act 1986 (EPA) and Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 (EPR). Extent of ESZs as per
2011 guidelines • As a general principle the width of the ESZ could go up to 10 kms around a PA as
provided in the Wildlife Conservation Strategy-2002. • Sensitive corridors, connectivity and
ecologically important patches, crucial for landscape linkages, even beyond 10 kms width, are also
included in the ESZ. • The distribution of an area of ESZ and the extent of regulation may not be in
uniform all around and are kept PA specific. Identification of activities undertaken within an ESZ,
generally classified under 3 categories: Prohibited Commercial mining, setting of saw mills, polluting
industries, major hydroelectric projects etc. Regulated (Restricted with safeguards) Felling of trees,
Establishment of hotels and resorts, drastic change of agriculture system, widening of roads,
introduction of exotic species etc. Permissible Rainwater Harvesting, Organic farming, Ongoing
Agricultural and Horticulture practices by local communities, Adoption of green technology for all
activities etc. 72 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS Issues related to creation of ESZs • Opposition from
States: Several states like Kerala, Karnataka etc. have been lobbying for reduction in areas
demarcated as ESZs due to impact on developmental activities and revenue. • Lack of participatory
planning exercises while implementing the ESZ. • Enforcing a one-size-fits-all ‘1 km’ buffer zone in all
protected areas will be difficult. • Lack of ground investigation for proposals with areas being
randomly marked on topographic sheets. • Community protests: There have been demands that
human settlements located close to the forest boundary must be exempted from ESZs as it restricts
land-use change, affecting livelihood prospects of local residents. • Practical difficulties: The density
of human population around the forest lands is high in some regions, making implementation of ESZ
regulations tough. Way Forward • Undertaking participatory planning of ESZs which addresses the
needs and aspirations of the local and indigenous people while protecting the environment and
biodiversity. • Conducting on ground investigations to verify environmentally fragile zones identified
by satellite images. • Promoting eco-friendly livelihood practices such as natural farming,
agroforestry etc. in areas lying in notified ESZs and building capacity among locals for the same. •
Building consensus among States though negotiations. • Extensively studying the impact of
infrastructural projects on the forest and wildlife before giving permission. 5.6. WATER INSECURITY
Why in news? According to some estimates, annual per capita availability of water in India has
declined by 75% – from 6,042 cubic meters in 1947 to 1,486 cubic meters in 2021, making India a
highly water insecure nation. About Water Insecurity It can be defined as the lack of availability of
sufficient water of good quality to meet basic human requirements, livelihoods and ecosystem
functions, and an increased risk of water-linked disasters. Factors responsible for India’s rising water
insecurity Factors Facts Reasons Depletion of groundwater • Groundwater level in India has declined
by 61 per cent between 2007 and 2017. • Rate of groundwater extraction is higher than the natural
recharge rate. • Illegal and excessive extraction for industrial, domestic and agricultural use. •
Concretization of urban infrastructure disrupting rejuvenation of the underground aquifers. Related
concept: Water scarcity • According to Falkenmark’s water stress index (the world’s most widely
used index for estimating water scarcity), where the water availability is less than 1,700 cubic meter
per capita per year, there is water scarcity. • Per this criterion, about 76% of the people in India are
currently facing water scarcity. 73 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS • Low water use efficiency in
agriculture: Traditional techniques like farm inundation, high farm runoff, cultivation of the water
intensive crops etc. Pollution of surface water • ~70% of surface water in India is unfit for
consumption. • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2018 identified 351 polluted river
stretches in India. • Discharge of untreated or partially treated industrial and domestic wastewater
in rivers, lakes etc.: More than 60% of sewage generated by urban India is untreated and enters. •
Agricultural runoff. • Low capacity and inadequate number of sewage treatment plants. • Poor
enforcement of environmental norms. Vanishing water bodies – ponds, lakes, tanks, wetlands • 2%
of India’s water bodies have been encroached. • Direct Encroachment of water bodies due to rapid
urbanisation and unplanned growth. • Lack of proper maintenance for restoration of carrying
capacity. • Removal of vegetation from the catchment area. • Increasing siltation, salinity,
eutrophication. • Disrupted channels of water flows. • Illegal sand mining. • Unsustainable tourism.
Hydrological factors • India witnessed a 6% Decline in Summer monsoon rainfall during the period
1951-2015. • Altered rainfall patterns. • Reduced flow of rivers. • Higher
evapotranspiration.9122678987765432