Face of Nation : The Ministry of Environment on Friday approved 13 wildlife sanctuaries, including one tiger reserve in Chhattisgarh, as eco-sensitive zones (ESZ) for scientific conservation of the ecosystem. Making the announcement on social media, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “To help scientific conservation of ecosystems and at the same time give relief to the people in the area, I have approved final Eco Sensitive Zone notifications of 11 sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu and one in Chhattisgarh.” In a series of tweets, he named all the sanctuaries brought under the notification. “I have also approved final Eco-Sensitive Zone notification in respect of Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra,” the minister tweeted.
The 11 sanctuaries in Tamil Nadu are Vaduvoor Bird Sanctuary, Kanjirankulam Bird Sanctuary, Srivilliputhur Grizzled Squirrel sanctuary, Megamalai Wildlife sanctuary, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Vettangudi Birds sanctuary, Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, Sakkarakottai Bird Sanctuary, Vallanadu Blackbuck Sanctuary, Oussudu Lake Bird Sanctuary and Point Calemere Wildlife Sanctuary. The Achanakmar Tiger Reserve in Chhattisgarh and Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra have also been approved as ESZ, Javadekar said.
