Demarcation of eco-sensitive zone

Union Government has completed the demarcation of eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) around the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in the national capital region (NCR) of Delhi. It was announced by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar mentioning that notification in this regard will be issued soon. Earlier, National Green Tribunal (NGT) had passed an order barring any infrastructure development within 10 kilometre radius from the sanctuary’s boundary. This order did not allow the people to get occupancy certificates who had booked flats in this protected area. In order solve this problem NGT had directed the Union Ministry of Environment to issue the final notification on ESZ demarcation around the sanctuary. Once the final demarcation notification is issued by the government, the home buyers outside the ESZ will be allowed to get occupancy certificates of their flats which were pending due to NGT’s order. About Okhla Bird Sanctuary Okhla Bird Sanctuary is situated in Noida Gautam Buddh Nagar district on Delhi-Uttar Pradesh state border. Location: Okhla barrage over Yamuna River at the point where the river enters Uttar Pradesh. It was designated a bird sanctuary in 1990 with an area of 3.5 square kilometres by the Uttar Pradesh Government of under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Okhla Bird Sanctuary is known as a haven for over 300 bird species, especially waterbirds.