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Eco-Zone Dispute Delays Bird Sanctuary Expansion
12 Jul
Summary
- Central Empowered Committee objects to zero km eco-sensitive zone.
- Supreme Court directed expansion of Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.
- Environmentalist seeks full 800 hectares declared as sanctuary.
The final notification for the expansion of Agra's Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary has been delayed. This halt is due to an objection from the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) regarding the Uttar Pradesh government's notification of a "zero kilometres" eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the proposed expansion. The CEC has stated that only the Central government has the authority to notify an ESZ under environmental laws, compelling the state government to amend its notifications.
An eco-sensitive zone is designated as a buffer area around protected forests or wildlife sanctuaries, where development activities are regulated to minimize their environmental impact. The CEC, in a letter dated January 29, 2026, requested the state government to amend two notifications issued on December 27, 2024. These notifications included 380.558 hectares of reserved forest in the sanctuary and a preliminary notification for an additional 14.5025 hectares, both declaring a "zero kilometres" ESZ.
Following the CEC's objection, the state government began revising the proposal. An inquiry report was prepared in March 2026, and the principal secretary of the environment, forest, and climate change department decided to incorporate the CEC's suggested changes. The revised proposal was then sent to the state government, and on July 8, 2026, the principal chief conservator of forests urged the principal secretary to expedite the final notification for the remaining 14.5025 hectares.
The dispute traces back to 2018 when a draft notification proposed expanding the sanctuary to approximately 800 hectares. However, the final notification in October 2019 reduced the area to 403 hectares. An environmentalist challenged this in the Supreme Court, which in 2022 directed the inclusion of Agra's Surdas Reserve Forest block (380.558 hectares) and an additional 14.5025 hectares of government land. After the directions were not implemented, the environmentalist approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2023.
