Environment activists have said that the proposed 100-m buffer zone in Gurgaon around Asola Bhatti Sanctuary is grossly inadequate “as it leaves out vast Aravalli hill areas”. They have demanded that Haryana declare a sister sanctuary or national park contiguous to the sanctuary on the Haryana side in the contiguous Aravalli hills of Gurgaon and Faridabad.
A reply to a RTI application had recently revealed that the Haryana government has forwarded a proposal to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and the Climate Change for the demarcation of Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) on the side of Asola Bhatti Sanctuary. The State government has proposed a 100-m ESZ along the boundary of the sanctuary in Gurgaon and a 1-km ESZ in Faridabad, said the RTI reply.
Terming the proposal as a mere “eyewash”, environmental analyst Chetan Agarwal told The Hindu that Haryana should declare a sister sanctuary or national park contiguous to Asola Bhatti Sanctuary as this would protect the catchments of Badkhal, Damda Lake, Mangar Bani Sacred Grove, and ensure connectivity between Asola in Delhi and Sariska in Rajasthan.
“Till that happens, at least the entire Aravalli belt in Faridabad and Gurgaon districts of Haryana, varying from approximately one km to 16 km in depth, must be included in the eco-sensitive zone for Asola Bhatti Sanctuary,” he said.
Lt. Col (retd.) S.S. Oberoi, an environment activist, said Delhi had already protected the Aravalli hills in South-East Delhi by declaring a sanctuary, and was now putting further restrictions in the private agricultural plain areas adjacent to the Aravalli belt in the form of eco-sensitive zones which would not even cover the contiguous areas. “The proposed ESZ belt on the Haryana side leaves out numerous important ecological assets such as lakes, lake catchments, sacred groves, wildlife habitats, and a groundwater recharge zone,” said Lt. Col. (retd.) Oberoi.
The Aravalli hills extend all the way from Asola Bhatti Sanctuary in Delhi, to Sariska National Park in Rajasthan, via Faridabad, Gurgaon and Mewat districts. The presence of leopards in Asola Sanctuary is a clear indication that they are moving to Asola from the south and east sides. Also, Striped Hyena, Indian Golden Jackal, Ruddy Mongoose, Small Indian Civet and Common Palm Civet, Mongoose, Neelgai, etc., have presence in Aravallis. Several critically endangered, near-endangered, and rare birds have been reported from the south of Asola in Mangar.
The Mangar Bani watershed and adjacent areas make up an important wildlife habitat with sightings of rare birds, and leopards.
