Odisha plans to ease forest, wildlife restrictions to boost tourism; experts call it dangerous
According to government records, the Odisha government is trying to alleviate environmental restrictions to promote tourism in and around the most ecologically, including national parks, tiger reserves, coastal areas and Ramsar wetlands.
Legal and protection experts say that this movement weakens the laws of forest, wildlife and biological diversity and tribal rights.
On May 30, according to a high-end meeting of the Odisha Chief Secretary, the state plans to visit and change the notifications of Eco-Logic Region (ESZ) to eliminate the provisions prohibiting construction and commercial activities.
In addition, the center plans to allow the forest land to be used for non -site purposes such as accommodation infrastructure, and to re -examine the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) classifications to accommodate more tourism projects along the coast.
ESZs, wildlife and biological diversity are forests protected to protect from harmful human activities such as mining, construction and pollutant industries, bumper areas created around the sacreds of wildlife and national parks. Activities such as farming, eco-tourism and renewable energy use are generally allowed by restrictions.
Minutes, ESZ notifications existing “Commercial/No Construction” article, the center of the 2011 instructions given by the active spirit of the correct reflect the correct reflection.
“The Ministry of Tourism (DOT) should be discussed in order to be informed and the main plan should be taken into consideration.”
The state decided to establish a committee authorized as the President of the Commissioner-Cum Secretary DOT and the Additional Chief Secretary, the President of the Forestry and Environment Department; PCCF and Hoff; PCCF (Wildlife); Director, Environment; CEO, Chilica Development Authority; Satkosia, Bhitarkanika and Similipal’s field directors; The director, the zoo of mint; General Manager, IDCO; Chief Engineer, Building; Odisha Bridge and Construction Company General Manager and Member Meeting Manager as a member.
However, there are no independent ecologists, wildlife scientists or tribal representatives in the panel.
The committee will meet every two months to discuss issues related to tourism projects against forest cleaning and ESZs.
Experts say that Odisha’s movement can allow economic interests to shape the regulatory frameworks designed for ecological protection and to allow a dangerous separation from India’s legal and ecological commitments.
“The state is the state of constitutional trustees of forest and wildlife with the authority to protect these natural beings,” Climate and Ecosystems Debadity Sinha at the Vidhi Legal Policy Center. He said.
Authorized, “ECO sensitive areas of the states of the states to take into account the main plan only ‘to take into account’ a directive makes serious concerns. Economic interests implies that ecological obligations can invalidate.” He said.
The Wild Life Protection Act 1972 prohibits commercial construction in national parks and sacred areas unless it supports direct protection or is not part of approved low -influential tourism.
Forest land deflection for purposes such as facilities, Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980 and local Gram Sabhas’ Forest Rights Law, will require forest permission under 2006.
The state’s proposal to remove the ESZ construction restrictions contradicts the June 2022 instructions of the Supreme Court.
Sinha said that the state’s plan contradicted the 1988 National Forestry Policy, stating that the derivation of direct economic benefit should be subject to environmental stability and ecological balance.
“To expand the tourism infrastructure and to create exemption for commercial activities, contradicts the spirit of the 1988 national forestry policy,” he said.
“At the same time, it will function as shock absorbers around the sacred areas and national parks, and weakens the reason for informing ESZ to protect ecological corridors.”
The State also asked Odisha coastal administration authority to re -examine the CRZ classifications to support tourism in areas with extremely high potential “.
However, the minutes do not mention environmental impact studies or consultations, especially in internationally recognized sites known as Chilica Lake, a determined Ramsar wetland area.
“The same principle applies to CRZs for coastal areas and Ramsar areas for wetlands that need to remain on ecological protection.” He said.
“There seems to seem to seem to have any discussion about transportation, strategic environmental impact assessments or natural ecological assessments of the consequences of tourism activities on natural ecosystems and the scientific assessment of the consequences of tourism activities.”
“Such ambiguous and arbitrary administrative aspects not only violate the legal tasks within the scope of forest and wildlife laws, but also face the risk of a dangerous precedent determination. They endanger Odisha’s rich biodiversity and weaken both national and international obligations.”
Published – 23 June 2025 11:09 IST
