HP sets up committee to assess carrying capacity of eco-sensitive zones

SHIMLA: The Government of Himachal Pradesh has established a state-level committee to evaluate the carrying capacity of eco-sensitive zones in accordance with the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) directives.

Prabodh Saxena, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Environment, Science and Technology, Government of Himachal Pradesh, who presided over the group’s inaugural meeting, said that the state-level joint committee was established in accordance with the NGT’s instructions and in order to hasten the procedure, the state-level committee decided to constitute a sub-committee. Saxena instructed the Forest Department of Himachal Pradesh to submit a list of eco-sensitive zones that had been notified. The carrying capacity of the zones will be evaluated, along with other crucial factors including economic, social, ecotourism, tribal, wildlife, and disaster management, he said. A thorough report will also be prepared after this. 

Apart from senior officials of the Department of Environment, Science and Technology, representatives from Departments of Forest, Urban Development, Town and Country Planning, Public Works Department, Rural Development, Transport, Pollution Control Board, Himachal Pradesh State Biodiversity Board, the Himalayan Forest Research Institute, Shimla and the State Disaster Management Authority were also included.

Previous departmental research and reports may be included in the evaluation reports, according to Lalit Jain, Director – Environment, Science, and Technology, Himachal Pradesh.