State's plans to ease forest, wildlife curbs for tourism boost 'dangerous'

Legal and conservation experts say the move will undermine forest, wildlife and biodiversity laws and tribal rights

- AGENCIES

The Odisha government is seeking to ease environmental restrictions to promote tourism inside and around some of its most ecologically sensitive regions, including national parks, tiger reserves, coastal zones and Ramsar wetlands, according to government records.

Legal and conservation experts said this move will undermine forest, wildlife and biodiversity laws and tribal rights.

According to minutes of a high-level meeting chaired by the Odisha Chief Secretary May 30, the state plans to revisit and amend Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notifications to remove clauses prohibiting construction and commercial activities.

It also plans to request the Centre to allow forest land to be used for non-site-specific purposes such as hospitality infrastructure and to re-examine Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) classifications to accommodate more tourism projects along the coast.

ESZs are buffer areas created around protected forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks to protect wildlife and biodiversity from harmful human activities such as mining, construction and polluting industries. Activities like farming, eco-tourism and the use of renewable energy are usually allowed with restrictions.

These buffer areas between wildlife habitats and human-dominated regions act as 'shock absorbers', said BK Singh, a retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer.