No mining or setting up of factories would be permitted in a 1-km buffer zone of at least 1 km around wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, the Supreme Court ordered on Friday.
If the existing ESZ goes beyond the 1 km buffer zone or if any statutory instrument prescribes a higher limit, then such extended boundary shall prevail.
In a significant order, the top court also issued a slew of directives on regulating activities in and around eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) across the country.
A bench comprising Justices L Nageswara Rao, BR Gavai, and Aniruddha Bose passed the directions in applications filed in the TN Godavarman Thirumalpad case. Justice Bose read out the operative portion of the judgment
Manufacturing and similar activities underway along these zones will go on only with the permission of the Chief Conservator of Forests, the court ruled.
The Chief Conservator of each state will prepare a list of existing structures that come under the ESZ designation and submit it within three months, the Supreme Court said.
There can be no mining within wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, it added.
The directions came on a petition about issues including forest preservation.