Srinagar: With the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) notifying an area around one kilometre of Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary as eco-sensitive zone, development of the Mughal Road, facing ruin and neglect, may face further hurdles.
The ministry in its notification has said: In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) and clauses (v) and (xiv) of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 (29 of 1986) (hereafter in this notification referred to as the Environment Act) read with sub-rule (3) of rule 5 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby notifies an area to an extent varying from 0 (zero) to 1.0 kilometre around the boundary of Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, in Shopian district in Jammu and Kashmir as the Eco-sensitive Zone.”
Highly places sourced in J&K administration, involved with developing project reports for the road, said that with this designation, any further development of the Mughal Road, passing through the designated zone, would face immense hurdles.
“The notification prohibits or regulates different activities within the eco-sensitive zone”, said an official.
Hirpora area is known to be one of the homes to some of the rare animal species like Markhor, Kashmir musk deer, common leopard, Himalayan griffon vulture, bearded vulture and Kashmir flycatcher.
These animals are also found across Pirpanjal and Outer Himalayan region in Kashmir.