Read in TOI that Kodagu ZP “has passed a resolution and sent it to the ministry opposing the creation of zones around Nagarahole National Park”. Even the Gundlupet MLA, under whose writ the Bandipur National Park falls has written to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, against the proposal which the govt is planning to enforce.

Both say the “villagers will face hardships” if the zone comes into place.

What is all this eco-sensitive zones about ?

There are 2 kinds of Zone, Zone I & Zone II which are being created around the buffer zone of the National Parks.

• Zone I – No mining, factories, resorts, saw mills and felling of trees on private lands in the zone, plus no widening roads, drilling borewells, night movement of vehicles and use of plastics.
• Zone II – No Resorts at all. Total Ban on contruction of resorts, no dumping of waste in water sources and rivers passing through this area.

To me it seems a very novel idea to fix the man-animal conflict that has been troubling coorg lately. But the ZP thinks otherwise.  There is nothing that says agriculture will be banned in the zones.  But still ZP is crying foul.  Knew about the timer lobby in existence in Coorg, time to welcome the “Mining” &  ”Tourism Lobby” ?