JAMMU, Dec 26: The long-awaited Master Plan for the Eco-Sensitive Zone of the Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary is set to be finalized shortly as the entire preparatory exercise has been completed by the concerned authorities. The initiative is expected to play a crucial role in regulating developmental and human activities around the sanctuary, thereby minimizing adverse impacts on its fragile and ecologically significant landscape.
The Eco-Sensitive Zone of Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary was notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change vide S.O. 210(E) dated January 17, 2022 to regulate certain activities so as to minimize the negative impacts on the fragile ecosystem encompassing the protected area.
The notification specified prohibited, regulated and permitted activities with the direction to constitute a Monitoring Committee to ensure compliance with the regulations. However, it was only on June 13, 2025 that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir constituted a Divisional Level Committee headed by Divisional Commissioner Jammu for effective monitoring of the provisions.
To ensure compliance with the regulations, it was imperative to formulate a Master Plan for the ESZ. A consultant was engaged to assist the Divisional Level Committee, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding the Master Plan has now been drafted and the final approval will be accorded by the Monitoring Committee headed by the Divisional Commissioner following which implementation will begin.
“The plan has been prepared strictly in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Court categorising activities into Permitted, Regulated and Prohibited zones to ensure balanced conservation and sustainable development,” sources said.
The Eco-Sensitive Zone generally extends up to one kilometer from the boundary of a protected area, though the extent may vary depending on ecological sensitivity and local conditions. In the case of the Surinsar-Mansar Wildlife Sanctuary, the ESZ spreads across parts of three districts—Jammu, Samba and Udhampur, making inter-district coordination a key component of the conservation strategy.
“The Master Plan focuses on protecting biodiversity, preserving natural habitats, regulating construction and industrial activity and promoting eco-friendly livelihoods while also addressing issues such as pollution control, land-use regulation and tourism management around the sanctuary,” sources said.
The prohibited activities include commercial mining, saw mills, industries causing pollution (air, water, soil, noise etc), establishment of major projects, commercial use of wood and discharge of effluents or any solid waste or production of hazardous substances.
The regulated activities include felling of trees, establishment of hotels and resorts, commercial use of natural water, drastic change of agriculture system and widening of roads. Permitted activities include ongoing agricultural or horticultural practices, rainwater harvesting, organic farming, use of renewable energy sources and adoption of green technology for all activities.
Meanwhile, the Eco-Sensitive Zone notification for the Nandni Wildlife Sanctuary is expected shortly, as all requisite formalities have been completed and the proposal has been submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The Ministry is likely to issue the draft notification in the near future, paving the way for public consultation and final notification.
In another significant development, the draft proposal for the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Bani Wildlife Sanctuary has also been forwarded to the MoEF, underscoring the Government’s broader push to strengthen environmental safeguards around protected areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
Once notified and enforced, the ESZs are expected to act as protective buffers around wildlife sanctuaries, ensuring that conservation imperatives are harmonized with responsible growth and community interests.
Welcoming these steps, environmental experts said, “the notification of Eco-Sensitive Zones and formulation of Master Plans are imperative for long-term ecological stability, wildlife conservation and sustainable development, especially in ecologically fragile zones facing increasing developmental pressure.”
