In a significant development, the UT Administration today agreed to reduce the stretch of the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary to less than 2.5 km.

The UT has to declare and submit the report on the ESZ to the Ministry of Environment and Forests before May 15. Today, in the meeting chaired by UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil, the UT officials discussed as to in how much area around the sanctuary developmental activities should be prohibited. Initially, the officials were of the view that the developmental activities in the 3-km area around the sanctuary should be regulated, but today the officials agreed to declare less than 2.5-km area as the eco-sensitive zone.

The UT Administration has finally given its nod to the eco-sensitive zone around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. The decision was taken at a meeting of officials chaired by UT Adviser KK Sharma. The decision was hanging fire for the past two years following differences between various departments.

Recently, the Ministry of Environment and Forests had extended the deadline from February 15 to May 15 as the UT Administration failed to declare the eco-sensitive zone on time.