Final Notification of ESZ around Bhitarkanika National Park Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and Gahirmatha Wildlife Sanctuary Odisha

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-10122024-259319 EXTRAORDINARY PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 10th December, 2024 S.O. 5323(E).—WHEREAS the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had published a draft notification 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 copies of the said Gazette containing the said notification were made available to the public, regarding the intention of the Central Government to declare an area to the extent as specified in the said draft notification, lying in the State of Odisha, around the Bhitarkanika National Park, as the Bhitarkanika National Park Eco-Sensitive Zone; AND WHEREAS copies of the said Gazette were made available to the public and objections/suggestions received from the public within the specified period have been duly considered by the Central Government; NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clause (v) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) read with clause (d) of sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby declares the area lying in Kendrapara district of the State of Odisha, more specifically described in the Schedule and Annexures appended to this notification, to be the Bhitarkanika National Park Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), with a view to conserve and protect the National Park and its surrounding forests, mangroves, wildlife and environment from the adverse effects of industrial and other developmental activities, subject to the following terms and conditions, namely:- 1. Extent and boundaries: The Eco-Sensitive Zone extends over the area described in the Schedule to this notification and shown in the maps at Annexure-II, measured from the boundary of the Bhitarkanika National Park, and covers revenue villages of the Rajnagar, Rajkanika, Pattamundai, Chandbali, Aul and Mahakalapada blocks of Kendrapara/Bhadrak districts of Odisha, as listed in Annexure-IV. 2. Zonal Master Plan: The State Government of Odisha shall prepare a Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-Sensitive Zone, within a period of two years from the date of publication of this notification, in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, providing for tourism, plans for the various activities related to the conservation, protection and development of forests, wildlife and the environment, and providing for the specific measures for improvement and management of the Eco-Sensitive Zone in consultation with the local communities and stakeholders. 3. Prohibited activities in the Eco-Sensitive Zone include: commercial mining, setting up of new saw mills (enlargement of existing ones), commercial use of firewood, industries causing pollution (air, water, soil, noise etc.), establishment of major hydroelectric projects, commercial establishment of new hotels and resorts, discharge of untreated effluents into natural water bodies or land area, dumping of solid waste, use and production of plastic carry bags, and change of agriculture land use for non-agriculture purposes, except as otherwise regulated. 4. Regulated activities include: felling of trees, establishment of hotels and resorts, widening/laying of roads, erection of electrical cables, commercial use of natural water for any commercial activity, and other activities that require prior clearance/permission from the competent authority as specified in the Zonal Master Plan. 5. Permitted activities include: ongoing agricultural and horticultural practices, organic farming, rainwater harvesting, adoption of green technology, and use of renewable energy sources, subject to applicable laws and the Zonal Master Plan. 6. Monitoring Committee: The State Government of Odisha shall constitute a Monitoring Committee, headed by the District Collector, Kendrapara, with representation from the Forest Department, Panchayati Raj institutions and other stakeholders, to monitor and ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of this notification, and shall submit an Annual Report to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the format at Annexure-V. 7. This notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. [F. No. ___] SCHEDULE (Description of the boundary of the Bhitarkanika National Park Eco-Sensitive Zone, describing the boundary points and directions along the periphery of the Zone with reference to villages, water bodies, roads and other landmarks in Kendrapara district, Odisha, as depicted in the accompanying maps.) ANNEXURE-I / ANNEXURE-IIA / ANNEXURE-IIB: Maps depicting the boundary of the Bhitarkanika National Park and the Eco-Sensitive Zone around it. Reference Points Along the ESZ Boundary: A table of numbered reference/turning points along the boundary of the Eco-Sensitive Zone with their latitude and longitude coordinates, as shown on the boundary maps at Annexure-II. ANNEXURE-III Table A: Geo-coordinates (latitude/longitude) of prominent locations/landmarks along and within the Eco-Sensitive Zone. Table B: Additional geo-referenced data pertaining to the Eco-Sensitive Zone boundary and landmarks. ANNEXURE-IV ANNEXURE-IV: List of villages falling within the Bhitarkanika National Park Eco-Sensitive Zone, with Gram Panchayat, Block and District, and geographic coordinates (latitude/longitude) of each village, Serial Nos. 1 to 160, District Kendrapara, Odisha. The list covers villages in the Blocks of Rajkanika, Rajnagar, Pattamundai, Chandbali, Aul and Mahakalapada, including (illustrative entries as recorded): Sl.76 Madanpur (Pattamundai block); Sl.79 Achutpur, Sl.96 Lakhmiprasaddian (Rajkanika block); Sl.109 Badapala through Sl.160 Tetelanga (Rajnagar block, Kendrapara district). Coordinates are expressed in degrees-minutes-seconds format (e.g., 20°34'56.71" N, 86°40'43.34" E for Sl.76 Madanpur). [Full table of all 160 villages with coordinates as printed in the Gazette.] ANNEXURE-V Proforma for Annual Action Taken Report to be submitted by the Monitoring Committee/State Government to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on the status of implementation of the Zonal Master Plan and the terms and conditions of this Eco-Sensitive Zone notification.