NO BUILDING IN 1-KM PERIPHERY OF GIR PARK

03/07/2015

NO BUILDING IN 1-KM PERIPHERY OF GIR PARK

Ahmedabad Mirror
http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/ahmedabad/others/No-building-in-1-km-periphery-of-Gir-park/articleshow/47916389.cms

After the issue of illegal construction gained currency in the state and Gujarat High Court took up the case suo moto, the state government on Thursday filed its reply with an "Eco sensitive zone policy for Gir. No construction would be allowed in the periphery of National Park, Gir, Paniya and Mitiyana sanctuaries spread over 1,412 km. However, local people have been given some relief under the new policy. The matter is being heard in the court of Justice Jayant Patel.

The next hearing has been scheduled for August 6. The policy was placed before the court by Advocated General Prakash Jani and Assistant Public Prosecutor Chintan Dave. Under the policy, 1 km of the forest has been termed as buffer zone where no commercial activities would be allowed. However, the court has posed some questions to the government. It asked the government to submit the permissions given in the periphery of 10 km in Gir. Have those given permission made additional construction; if yes then how much illegal construction has been done; and what about those who are operating without permission.

The state government stated in its reply to the court that construction which had come up as per the permission will remain as they were. However, those which came up without permission will be removed at the earliest. More than 500 illegal structures have been sealed in this area by the state government after the court took up the issue. There are farmers living in and close to Gir forest and they have raised construction for themselves. This amounts to 5 per cent of the total area of Gir. Under Bombay Police Act, 1951, no construction will be allowed in these areas. No construction will be allowed within 50 metres of the canals and 100 metres of the rivers.