The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests recently issued a notification identifying the Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary in Chittoor and Kadapa districts as an eco-sensitive zone.Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) or Ecologically Fragile Areas (EFAs) are areas notified by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) around Protected Areas, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
The Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary, which is part of the Reserve Forest in the Eastern Ghats, is home to rare flora and fauna.The Union government, which had earlier released a draft of its boundaries, received suggestions, suggestions and objections from the public in the Kurnool and Kadapa districts.
However, recently, the Union govt issued a final notification after examining all the reports.
The Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 525.97 sq km in Chittoor and Kadapa districts.A total area of 448 sq km has been declared as Eco-Sensitive Zone.
The State Government is required to formulate an Eco-Sensitive Zone Master Plan following the laws of the Central and State Governments.
As per the norms, the Zonal Master Plan should be drawn up in consultation with the Departments of Environment, Forestry, Wildlife, Agriculture, Revenue, Urban Development, Tourism, Rural Development, Irrigation, Flood Control, Municipalities, Panchayati Raj, Pollution Control Board, Roads and Buildings.
