PANCHKULA, 26 June — The Haryana Forest and Wildlife Department has launched the preparation of a Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) for eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) around three prominent wildlife sanctuaries in Panchkula district—Khol Hai Raitan, Bir Shikargah, and the Haryana side of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.
A senior official from the department confirmed that the project, with an estimated cost of ₹40 lakh, will be completed within three months. A public tender has already been issued to select a consultant for preparing the plan, which aims to integrate ecological preservation with sustainable development in the region.
“The ZMP is not merely a document—it’s a road map for balancing conservation with livelihood needs and developmental realities,” the official said. “We are mandated to prepare this plan in consultation with all stakeholders, including local communities, regulatory departments, and environmental experts.”
The eco-sensitive zones function as protective buffers around wildlife sanctuaries and are notified by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). These areas are critical to preserving the ecological integrity of forested zones while allowing regulated human activity in surrounding areas.
The plan will focus on multiple dimensions, including restoration of degraded landscapes, water resource conservation, biodiversity protection, pollution control, regulation of industrial and construction activity, and the promotion of eco-tourism and sustainable livelihood opportunities. The ZMP will also serve as a foundation for creating sector-specific sub-plans in areas such as transport, solid waste management, tourism, and forestry, ensuring compliance with both national and state-level guidelines.
The three eco-sensitive zones under consideration span significant geographical tracts. Around Khol Hai Raitan Wildlife Sanctuary, the notified ESZ covers approximately 1,320 hectares, while the Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary ESZ encompasses nearly 1,131 hectares. The ESZ surrounding the Haryana side of Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary—formally notified in November 2024—extends over 24.60 square kilometers.
Notably, ten villages are located within the ESZ around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary: Prempura, Sokhomajri, Damala, Lohgarh, Manakpur Thakardas, Surajpur, Chandimandir Kotla, Darra Kharauni, Rampur, Saketari, and Mahadevpur. Together, these villages cover a total area of 6,078.98 acres (2,460.07 hectares). The villages of Saketri and Prempura lie closest to the sanctuary’s boundary, with homes in Saketri situated directly along the forest edge, and Prempura’s habitation ranging from 300 to 700 meters from the sanctuary.
“The presence of densely inhabited villages so close to sanctuary boundaries makes it all the more important to regulate activity without disrupting local livelihoods,” the official added. “This plan will bring clarity and consensus on what is allowed, restricted, or prohibited.”
Mapping the precise boundary of the ESZs using GPS coordinates, as per the respective gazette notifications, will be a critical first step in the plan’s preparation. A baseline survey will also be carried out to document land use, forest density, agricultural patterns, water bodies, tourism infrastructure, and settlements.
Once complete, the plan will provide a detailed classification of permissible, regulated, and prohibited activities in line with ESZ notification guidelines. Activities such as large-scale construction, polluting industries, and unregulated tourism are typically prohibited in these zones, while sustainable agriculture, traditional practices, and ecotourism are encouraged under regulation.
The eco-sensitive zone around Bir Shikargah Wildlife Sanctuary—part of the ecologically significant Shivalik Hills and Ghaggar River catchment—was notified in November 2016. This sanctuary is known for its undulating terrain and serves as a crucial corridor for wildlife movement.
The Khol Hai Raitan Sanctuary, another critical part of the Shivalik range, was declared an ESZ in October 2016. With rich biodiversity and large forest tracts, it too faces growing pressures from urbanisation and land use change in the expanding Panchkula-New Chandigarh region.
Conservationists and planners have long called for such master plans to be implemented proactively, noting the increasing ecological stress on sanctuary buffer zones due to unregulated development, infrastructure expansion, and rising tourism footfalls.
“A zonal master plan backed by proper data, community participation and ecological foresight can be a game-changer,” said a former forest officer who has worked extensively in the Shivalik landscape. “The challenge lies in executing the plan with accountability and cross-departmental coordination.”
As Haryana begins preparing the ZMP, it will need to tread the fine line between environmental stewardship and the developmental aspirations of communities living on the edge of protected areas. If done right, the plan could serve as a model for other eco-sensitive zones in India—where people and nature co-exist in delicate balance.
