Kochi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday
diluted restrictions in the one-kilometer Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) imposed near protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries.
While the verdict allowed light construction of
permanent structures in the area, the riders on quarry mining and large constructions will remain as it was before, media reports said.
The court made the judgment while hearing applications of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change and some State Governments seeking relaxations on restrictions imposed by the Apex court in June, 2022.
The counsel for Kerala pointed out that almost 30 per cent of the State’s geographical area has forest cover.
Kerala argued that it had a high population density and people reside within close vicinity of forest areas and that blanket ban near the buffer zone will badly impact the people. Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh had also moved the court seeking relaxation.
Earlier order had given exemption for Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Flamingo Thane Creek near Mumbai city from the restriction.
SC relaxes ESZ norms
