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Context:

Up to 2 km Panchkula area around Sukhna Lake has been declared eco-sensitive zone.

Geographical Setting	Situated at the foothills of the Shivalik Hills, Himalayas.
Creation Year	1958
Created By	Damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream from the Shivalik Hills.
National Status	Declared a National Wetland by the Government of India.
Catchment Area Characteristics	Rugged terrain with steep slopes. Predominantly alluvial sandy soils with clay layer. Highly prone to soil erosion by water run-off.
Water Inflow	Heavily loaded with silt.
Adjacent Sanctuary	Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary
Sanctuary Fauna	Home to various birds, mammals, and reptiles.
Migratory Birds	Hosts exotic species like Siberian duck, Storks, and Cranes during winter.

About Eco Sensitive Zone:

The National Environment Policy (2006) defined the Eco-Sensitive Zones “as areas/zones with identified environmental resources having incomparable values which require special attention for their conservation” because of its landscape, wildlife, biodiversity, historical and natural values.

Read about ESZ in detail: IAS GYAN

Objective:

• To maintain the response level of an ecosystem within the permissible limits w.r.t environmental parameters.
• To notify the area as an Eco-sensitive zone and to regulate the developmental activities ina sustainable manner taking into consideration the needs and aspirations of the local people.

Salient Features of ESZ:

The ESZ Notification does not involve displacement and evacuation of farmers/people living in the villages.

The activities in the ESZ are generally regulated and not prohibitory in nature barring a few such as

• commercial mining, stone quarrying and crushing units;
• major hydroelectric project;
• handling of hazardous substances;
• discharge of untreated effluents;
• setting up of brick kilns;
• setting up of polluting industries, which have high potential for environmental damage.

As such, there is no prohibition on ongoing agriculture and horticulture practices by local communities, dairy farming, aquaculture, fisheries, poultry farm, goat farm, food related units etc.

Further, the activities like infrastructure augmentation including civic amenities, widening of roads, non-polluting industries etc. are also under regulated category.

No new commercial construction of any kind is permitted within one Kilometre from the boundary of the ProtectedArea or up to extent of the Eco-Sensitive Zone whichever is nearer.

However, there is no restriction for local people, they may undertake construction in their land for their use.

The ESZ Notification captures the following features:

• Brief on the Protected Area
• Area of ESZ and Extent of ESZ (Minimum and Maximum)
• Available Flora, Fauna [Including Endemic, Rare, Endangered and Threaten (RET) species]
• Boundary Description of ESZ
• Maps of the ESZ
• Geo-coordinates of prominent locations of PA and ESZ  along with Shape/ KML files
• List of villages along with Geo-co-ordinates
• General guideline on Zonal Master Plan
• Measures to be taken by the State Government
• Prohibited and Regulated Activities along with Promoted Activities
• Details of Monitoring Committee

Source:

TRIBUEINDIA

PRACTICE QUESTION Q.With reference to Sukhna Lake, which of the following statements are correct? Sukhna Lake is an artificial lake located at the foothills of the Himalayas. The lake was constructed in the 1950s to provide irrigation water to surrounding agricultural areas. Which of the above-given points is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: a Explanation: Statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is incorrect.Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh, India is an artificial lake at the foothills of the Shivalik hills. This 3-km² rain-fed lake was created in 1958 by damming the Sukhna Choe, a seasonal stream coming down from the Shivalik Hills.