The Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) has declared the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) for 625 sqkm Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) in Chandrapur. The Tadoba ESZ will be spread over an area of 1,346.61 sqkm and include 118 villages of Chandrapur, Bhadravati, Warora, Chimur, Sindewahi, and Mul talukas. The notification for it was issued on July 14.

The ESZ is site-specific and covers areas 3 to 16km from TATR boundary. It includes entire 1,103.34 sqkm buffer zone and contiguous forests beyond, which are also wildlife corridors. The buffer zone was notified on May 5, 2010. In a victory for the greens, ESZ has also included controversial coal-beds in Bandar in the North of Tadoba and Lohara in the South. As per the Environment Protection Act 1986, no mining activity is allowed in the ESZ. At both the places, politicians have been pushing for mines for power majors in Vidarbha region..............Read more

Source web page: Times of India