The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change recently declared 192 villages around the Bhitarkanika National Park and the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapada district as eco-sensitive zone (ESZ).

The ESZ status aims at preventing ecological damage caused due to development activities around the Bhitarkanika, touted as the India's second-largest mangrove forest after Sundarbans in West Bengal, and Gahirmatha beach, the world's 'largest rookery' of Olive Ridley sea turtles.

"The union government on October 21, 2014, issued a draft notification, identifying the ESZ, covering 192 villages within two-km radius of Bhitarkanika and invited suggestions and objections from the locals within two months. Many villagers and environmentalists submitted their suggestions and objections, which were taken into consideration by the Centre," said chief wildlife warden and principal chief conservator of forests S S Srivastava...........Read more

Source web page: Times of India