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Core Purpose

Draft notification under section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 declaring an Eco-Sensitive Zone around Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary in Thane and Palghar districts, Maharashtra.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, via draft notification S.O. 1942(E) dated 7th May 2024, issued under sub-section (1) read with clauses (v) and (xiv) of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) and sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, proposes to declare an Eco-Sensitive Zone extending 1.00 to 9.00 km from the boundary of Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary (notified vide notification No. WLP.1667/142811/Y dated 12th June 1970 and amended vide notification No. WLP.1085/CR-588/IV/F-5 dated 16th September 1985, area 304.81 sq. km, located in Shahapur taluka of Thane district and Wada/Mokhada talukas of Palghar district, Maharashtra); objections/suggestions may be submitted within sixty days to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jorbagh Road, New Delhi, or to [email protected]; the proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone covers 475.160 sq. km (280.581 sq. km forest area and 194.579 sq. km non-forest area, including 161 villages) across the Shahapur (202.713 sq. km), Bhiwandi (30.948 sq. km), Mokhada (55.434 sq. km) and Wada (186.065 sq. km) development blocks; the State Government must prepare a Zonal Master Plan within two years of final notification, approved by the Competent Authority and prepared in consultation with State Departments including Environment, Forests, Agriculture, Revenue, Urban Development, Tourism, Village Development/Panchayati Raj, Water Resources, the Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board, Public Works, and Industry, without imposing restrictions on approved existing land use and infrastructure unless specified.

Full Text

: ````text REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-10052024-254147 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 1849] NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2024/VAISAKHA 17, 1946 MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 7th May, 2024 S.O 1942(E).—The following draft notification, which the Central Government proposes to issue in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1), read with clause (v) and clause (xiv) of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) is hereby published, as required under sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, for the information of the public likely to be affected thereby; and notice is hereby given that the said draft notification shall be taken into consideration on or after the expiry of a period of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing this notification are made available to the public; Any person interested in making any objections or suggestions on the proposals contained in the draft notification may forward the same in writing, for consideration of the Central Government within the period so specified to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jorbagh Road, Aliganj, New Delhi-110 003, or send it to the e-mail address of the Ministry at [email protected] Draft Notification WHEREAS, the Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary, District Thane & Palghar lies between Longitudes 73° 09' 45" to 73° 24' 30" E and Latitudes 19° 25' 30" to 19° 46′ 45″ N in Shahapur Taluka of Thane district and Wada, Mokhada Taluka of Palghar district of Maharashtra State and extends over an area of 304.81 sq. km. The Sanctuary was notified vide notification no. WLP. 1667/142811/Y dated 12th June, 1970 and amended with addition of new area vide notification no. WLP. 1085/CR- 588/IV/F-5 dated 16th September, 1985; AND WHEREAS, the Common Leopard (Panthera pardus) is one of the species found in the said Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary which is of vital importance. Other species like near threatened Rusty-Spotted Cat (Prionailurus rubiginosus), Jungle Cat (Felis chaus), Small Indian Civet, Common Palm Civet, Mouse deer, Indian Rock Python, Rat Snake, Indian Cobra, Russel's Viper, Checkered keelback, Common monitor lizard, etc., are also found in this Sanctuary; AND WHEREAS, the area has rich floral diversity and supports large number of tree species such as Ain (Terminalia alata /var -tomentosa ), Amba (Mangiferia indica), Amati (Wavding) (Embelia tsjeriam- cottam), Anjan (Hardwickia binata), Apta (Bauhinia recemosa Lam.), Asand (Bridelia retusa), Arjun sadada (Terminalia arjuna), Amla (Phyllanthus emblica), Babhul (Acacia nilotica varindica), Bel (Aegle marmelos), Bakula (Mimusops elengi), Bahawa (Cassia fistula), Beheda (Terminalia bellirica), Bhendi (Thespesia populnea), Bhoma (Glochindion ellipticum), Bhokar (Shelute) (Cordia dichotoma), Bhor Jambhul (Ameania baccifera), Bhuktesh (Lawset) (Mussaenda frondasa), Biba (Semicarpus anacardium), Bibla (Pterocarpus marsupium), Bondara (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Bor (Ziziphus mauritiana), Chamol (Bauhinia vahili), Chanda, Chandva (Macaranga peltate), Char, Charoli (Buchanania lanzan), Chera (Erinoi carpusnimmonii), Chinch (Tamarindus indica), Dandoshi (Daloergia lanceaolaria), Daiwas(Dahivel) (Cordia macleodii), Datir (Ficus heterophylla), Dhaman (Grewia tilliaefolia), Dhawada (Anogeissus latifolia), Dikemali (Gardenia resinifera), Gol (Trema orientalis), Hed/ Haldu (Adina cordifolia), Hirda (Terminalia chebula), Jamba (Xylia xylocarpa), Jambul (Syzygium cuminii), Kakad (Garuga pinnata), Kondal (Sterculia urens), Karambel (Dillenia pentagyna), Karlilimb (Kadilimb) (Murraya koenigii) etc.; AND WHEREAS, the avifaunal diversity of the area includes Little Grebe, Cormorant, Indian Shag, Little Cormorant, Darter, Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, Large Egret, Little Egret, Night Heron, Chestnut Bittern, Lesser Flamingo, Pintail, Common Teal, Spot bill Duck, Mallard, Gadwal, Wigeon, Garganey, Shoveler, Common Pochard, White-Eyed Pochard, Comb Duck, Black winged Kite, Black Kite, Black eared Kite, Brahminy Kite, Shikra, Sparrowhawk, White-eye buzzard Eagle, Eastern Steppe Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Pala's Fishing Eagle, Indian Long billed Vulture, Indian White backed Vulture, Marsh Harries, Montagu's Harrier, pale Harrier, Crested Serpent Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, etc. AND WHEREAS, it is necessary to conserve and protect the area around the protected Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary as an Eco-sensitive Zone from an ecological and environmental point of view and to prohibit polluting industries or classes of industries, as well as 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 of 1.00 km to 9.00 km from the boundary of Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary in the State of Maharashtra as Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary Eco-sensitive Zone (hereinafter after referred to as Eco-sensitive Zone) details of which are as under, namely:- 1. Extent and boundaries of Eco-sensitive Zone- (1) The Eco-Sensitive Zone is spread over an area of 475.160 sq. km in Thane and Palghar District of Maharashtra State consisting of 280.581 sq. km forest area and non-forest area of 194.579 sq. km including 161 villages. The Eco-sensitive Zone is up to an extent of 1.00 km to 9.00 km from the boundary of Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. The Shahapur and Bhiwandi development blocks of Thane District whereas Wada and Mokhada development blocks of Palghar District are included in ESZ around Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary. (2) The description of Boundaries of the Tansa ESZ is appended as Annexure I-A. (3) Eco-sensitive Zone is bounded by the forests and private area of Shahapur Forest Division on Eastern side, by Thane Forest Division on Southern side and Jawhar Forest Division on Western and Northern sides. The map of the Sanctuary along with the proposed Eco-sensitive Zone is appended as Annexure I- B. (4) The land use map and google earth imagery of Eco-sensitive Zone is appended as Annexure 1C & Annexure 1D respectively. (5) The map of Eco-sensitive Zone overlaid on Toposheet along with legal status of land is appended as Annexure 1E & Annexure 1F respectively. (6) Map of potential wildlife corridors connecting protected areas around Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary and its Eco-sensitive Zone is appended as Annexure- 1G. (7) The list of geo co-ordinates of the Eco Sensitive Zone & Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary is appended as Annexure - II. (8) The Tehsil wise area included in proposed Eco-sensitive Zone is given as under: - +---------------+-------------------------+ | Name of Tehsil| Area of Eco-sensitive Zone| +===============+=========================+ | Shahapur | 202.713 sq.km | +---------------+-------------------------+ | Bhiwandi | 30.948 sq.km | +---------------+-------------------------+ | Mokhada | 55.434 sq.km | +---------------+-------------------------+ | Wada | 186.065 sq.km | +---------------+-------------------------+ | Total | 475.160 sq.km | +---------------+-------------------------+ (9) The list of the villages falling within the Tansa Eco-sensitive Zone and villages having area in side ESZ but having Human habitation outside the ESZ area is appended as Annexure-III. (10) The Legal status of land inside Proposed Eco Sensitive Zone is appended as Annexure – IV. (11) The proforma for the Action taken Report by Eco-Sensitive zone monitoring committee will be as per Annexure - V. 2. Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-sensitive Zone - 1) The State Government shall, for the purpose of the Eco-sensitive Zone, prepare a Zonal Master Plan, within a period of two years from the date of publication of final notification in the Official Gazette, in consultation with local people and adhering to the stipulations given in this notification. (2) The Zonal Master Plan shall be approved by the Competent Authority in the State Government. (3) The Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-sensitive Zone shall be prepared by the State Government in such manner as is specified in this notification and also in consonance with the relevant Central and State laws and the guidelines issued by the Central Government, if any. (4) The Zonal Master Plan shall be prepared in consultation with all concerned State Departments, namely: - (i) Environment; (ii) Forests; (iii) Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fish business; (iv) Revenue; (v) Urban Development; (vi) Tourism and Cultural Affair Department; (vii) Village Development, Municipality and Panchayati Raj; (viii) Water Resources; (ix) Maharashtra State Pollution Control Board; (x) Public Works Department; and (xi) Industry. (5) The Zonal Master Plan shall not impose any restriction on the approved existing land use, infrastructure and activities, unless so specified in this notification and the Zonal Master Plan shall factor in improvement of all infrastructure

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