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The Gazette of India
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 1830] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2024/VAISAKHA 16, 1946
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 22nd March, 2024
S.O. 1923(E).—WHEREAS a draft notification declaring an area to an extent varying from 0 kilometers to 37.60 kilometers around the boundary of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary in the State of Arunachal Pradesh as the Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-sensitive Zone was published as required under sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part-II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely to be affected thereby, within a period of sixty days from the date on which the copies of the Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public;
AND WHEREAS, copies of the Gazette containing the said draft notification were made available to the public on the 23rd August, 2023;
AND WHEREAS, no objections and suggestions were received from persons and stakeholders in response to the said draft notification;
WHEREAS, the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary is spread over an area of 100 square kilometer and situated in West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh. The Sanctuary was notified on 19th July, 1982 vide notification no. FOR.32/IND-1/82/17706-45, dated the 19th July, 1982.
AND WHEREAS, the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary is known for indigenous Orchids available in the region. This sanctuary has been notified with the objective is for protection and Conservation, including development of in-situ Orchids. Apart from protection and conservation of Orchids, it helps in protection of wildlife and the rich biodiversity found in the Sanctuary.
AND WHEREAS, the Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 217 Square Kilometers and situated in the Singchung administrative circle of West Kameng district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh as notified on the 18th October, 1989 vide notification no. CWL/D/27/89/3101-3174.
AND WHEREAS, the Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve is spread over an area of 861.95 sq km and located in the Pakke Kessang district of Arunachal Pradesh which is surrounded by the Tenga Reserve Forest to the North, Doimara Reserve Forest on the West, Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve (Assam) on the South and some agricultural land as well as Papum Reserve Forest on the East.
AND WHEREAS, the forests of North-East India are recognized as a 'Global Biodiversity Hotspot' and 'Endemic Bird Area' due to their richness in floral and faunal species. The landscape has high species diversity and endemicity as it forms the transition zone between the Indian and Malayan eco-regions.
AND WHEREAS, the two important parts of the North-East Indian tiger landscape are the Brahmaputra flood plains and the North-East Indian hills and the Pakke and Nameri Tiger Reserves are situated North of the river Brahmaputra in the transition zone between the Assam plains and the hilly forests of Arunachal Pradesh forming one of the largest blocks of semi-evergreen and evergreen forests in the North-East.
AND WHEREAS, it is necessary to conserve and protect the area, extent and boundary which is specified in paragraph 1 of this notification around the protected area of Pakke Tiger Reserve, Eagle nest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary as Eco-sensitive zone from ecological, environmental and biodiversity point of view and to prohibit industries or class of industries and their operations and processes in the said Eco-Sensitive Zone;
NOW THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clauses (v) and (xiv) of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) (hereafter in this notification referred to as the Environment Act) read with sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby notifies an area to an extent varying from 0 kilometers to 37.60 kilometers around the boundary of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary in the State of Arunachal Pradesh as the Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-sensitive Zone, (hereafter in this notification referred to as the Eco-sensitive Zone), the details of which are specified in paragraph 1, for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of environment and preventing and controlling and abating environment pollutions and take the following measures, namely: -
1. Extent and boundaries of Eco-sensitive Zone. – (1) The Eco-Sensitive Zone shall cover an area of 766.20 square kilometers with an extent varying from zero kilometer to 37.60 kilometers around the Pakke Tiger Reserve, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary. The Extent of Eco-Sensitive zone in different directions is given below: -
+------------+------------------+
| DIRECTION | EXTENT |
+============+==================+
| North | 1.0 Km |
+------------+------------------+
| North-East | 1.0 to 2.5 Km |
+------------+------------------+
| East | 2.0 to 37.60 km |
+------------+------------------+
| South-East | 1.0 Km |
+------------+------------------+
| South | 0 Km |
+------------+------------------+
| South-West | 1 Km |
+------------+------------------+
| West | 1 Km |
+------------+------------------+
| North-West | 1 Km |
+------------+------------------+
Note: Zero extent of Eco-Sensitive Zone is due to the boundary of Nameri National Park and Tiger Reserve of Assam that lies in the southern part of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve. The boundary of the Sanctuary is base marked by prominent and noticeable features like ridges and gorges, streams & nallahs.
(2) The boundary description of Protected Areas and its Eco-Sensitive Zone is specified in Tables A to D of Annexure-I appended to the notification.
(3) The map of the Eco-Sensitive Zone along with boundary details and latitudes and longitudes is appended as Annexure-II A, II B and II C.
(4) The geo-coordinates of prominent locations along the boundary of Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve, Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary and Sessa Orchid Sanctuary and its Eco-Sensitive Zone are given in Table A and Table B of Annexure-III.
(5) The list of villages falling within the Eco-Sensitive Zone is appended as Annexure-IV.
2. Zonal Master Plan for Eco-Sensitive Zone - (1) The State Government shall, for the purposes of the Eco-Sensitive Zone, prepare and notify a Zonal Master Plan within two years from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette, in consultation with local people.
(2) The Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-Sensitive Zone shall be prepared in the manner specified in this notification and also shall be in consonance with the relevant laws for the time being in force and the guidelines issued by the Central Government, if any.
(3) The Zonal Master Plan shall be prepared in consultation with the following Departments of the State Government, for integrating the ecological and environmental considerations into the said plan, namely: -
(i) Environment;
(ii) Forest and Wildlife;
(iii) Agriculture;
(iv) Revenue;
(v) Urban Development;
(vi) Tourism;
(vii) Rural Development;
3. Constitution of Monitoring Committee. – A Monitoring Committee shall be constituted by the State Government for monitoring the compliance of the provisions of this notification, consisting of the following members, namely: -
(vii) An expert in the area of ecology, biodiversity and environment to be nominated by the State Government for a term not exceeding three years in each case — Member;
(viii) Divisional Forest Officer, Shergaon (Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary) — Member, ex-Officio;
(ix) Divisional Forest Officer, Khellong (Sessa Orchid Wildlife Sanctuary) — Member, ex-Officio;
(x) Divisional Forest Officer, Pakke Forest Division Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary and Tiger Reserve — Member Secretary, ex-Officio;
6. Terms and Functions of the monitoring committee:
(1) The Monitoring Committee shall, based on the actual site-specific conditions scrutinise, the activities that are covered in the Schedule to the notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forest number S.O. 1553 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006, and are falling in the Eco-sensitive Zone, except for the prohibited activities as specified in the Table under paragraph 4 thereof, and referred to the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change or the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, as the case may be, for prior environmental clearances under the provisions of the said notification.
(2) The activities not covered in the Schedule to the notification of the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests number S.O. 1533 (E), dated the 14th September, 2006 and falling in the Eco-sensitive Zone, except for the prohibited activities as specified in the Table under paragraph 4 thereof, shall be scrutinised by the Monitoring Committee based on the actual site-specific conditions and referred to the Regulatory Authorities concerned.
(3) The Member-Secretary of the Monitoring Committee or the Collector concerned or the Deputy Conservator of Forests concerned shall be competent to file complaints under section 19 of the Environment Act, against any person who contravenes the provisions of this notification.
(4) The Monitoring Committee may invite representatives or experts from Departments concerned, representatives from industry associations or concerned stakeholders to assist in its deliberations depending on the requirements on case-to-case basis.
(5) The Monitoring Committee shall submit the annual action taken report of its activities as on the 31st March of every year by the 30th June of that year to the Chief Wildlife Warden in the state as per pro-forma appended at Annexure V.
(6) The Central Government in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change may give such directions, as it deems fit, to the Monitoring Committee for effective discharge of its functions.
7. Additional measures - The Central Government and State Government may specify additional measures, if any, for giving effect to provisions of this notification.
[F. No. 25/8/2021-ESZ]
Dr. S. KERKETTA, Scientist 'G'
ANNEXURE- I
Table A: BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION OF THE PAKKE WILDLIFE SANCTURY
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Directions | Description |
+=============+==================================================================================================+
| North | From the point on the Bhorali river near Sicham when it changes its Westerly direction to |
| | Southwards. Thence along the right bank of the Bhorali Eastward to its confluence with |
| | Passuni river thence along the right bank of the Passuni river Eastward to the confluence with |
| | one of its tributaries about four miles East from its junction with Miri Ipatha River |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| East | Thence Southwards along the right bank of this tributary to its source and across the ridge to |
| | the source of one of the tributaries of the Pakhui river (which tributaries crosses the |
| | foothpath from Sema to Xelanggania village about 4/1 mile from its junction with the pakhuni |
| | River). Thence along the left bank of the tributary the Pakhui River. Thence along the left |
| | bank of the Pakhui river to the point where it crosses the inner line. |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| South | Thence along the Inner line to the point where it crosses the Bhorali River. |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| West | Thence along the left bank of the Bhorali Northwards to the Starting point. |
+-------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Table B: BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION OF THE EAGLE NEST WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Directions | Description |
+================+=============================================================================================+
| North and East | From the point at alt. 2966 at Nganpe (GR 707355) the boundary follows an artificial line |
| | along the ridges through GR 723351,727364, 732368, 736372, 738375, 734383, till it meets |
| | the Doimara Shergaon foot-path. Thence along the foot path towards North West upto its |
| | junction with Pirla, Shergaon foot-path. East Ward till it meets Chaku Thungre foot-path |
| | at (alt.2829) Pirla GR 815408. Thence the boundary follows an artificial line about 110° |
| | for a distance of 2 Km approx. i.e. 'upto' ridge alt. 3213 at Bra (FR 830405). Thence |
| | another artificial line along the ridge though GR 836410,840413 till it meets the Eagle |
| | Nest- Thungre footpath at GR 849419. Thence along foot-path in South East wards till it |
| | meets Chaku at GR 825385. Thence the boundary follows an artificial line about 135° for a |
| | distance of 750 meters approx. Till it meets Tipi Nallah. Thence along the downstream of |
| | Tipi Nallah upto the confluence with its tributary coming from North East at GR 920364. |
| | Thence another artificial straight line about 45° for a distance 4.7 Km. approx. till it |
| | meets the Bomdila- Bhalukpong road at GR 940383. Thence along the road towards East upto |
| | Pinjoli at. GR 998365. |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| South | Thence the boundary follows an artificial line touching picks 1192 (GR 982341) 1260 (GR |
| | 950321), 1384 (GR 864290), 1275(GR 815290) by crossing foothill of Chaku Road, and pick |
| | 1325 (GR ...) [description continues in the source document]. |
+----------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
[Table B continues with West boundary description, and Table C (boundary description of the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary) and Table D (boundary description of the Eco-Sensitive Zone) follow in the source document.]
ANNEXURE-III
Table A: Geo-coordinates of prominent locations along the boundary of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (points A1 to A38) — a table of latitude/longitude coordinate pairs for numbered boundary points around the Pakke Tiger Reserve Eco-Sensitive Zone.
Table B: Geo-coordinates for Sessa Orchid Sanctuary (points B1 to B10) — a table of latitude/longitude coordinate pairs for numbered boundary points.
Table C: Geo-coordinates for Eagle Nest Wildlife Sanctuary (points C1 to C19) — a table of latitude/longitude coordinate pairs for numbered boundary points.
Table D: Geo-coordinates of the Eco-Sensitive Zone boundary (points D1 to D50) — a table of latitude/longitude coordinate pairs for numbered boundary points.
ANNEXURE-IV
List of villages falling within the Eco-Sensitive Zone (a list of villages of West Kameng and Pakke-Kessang districts, Arunachal Pradesh, situated within the notified Eco-Sensitive Zone).
ANNEXURE-V
Pro-forma for the Annual Action Taken Report to be submitted by the Monitoring Committee to the Chief Wildlife Warden.
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