The Gujarat Government has decided to frame a fresh policy to grant permission to the new hotels as well as those hotels within two km buffer zone surrounding the Gir forest spread across the three districts — Gir Somnath, Junagadh and Amreli — which were sealed following the Gujarat High Court order. The High Court has banned all commercial activities in Gir Sanctuary area till the State Government comes out with a fresh policy on approvals of construction of new hotels. More than 60 hotels and guest houses — including Taj Group’s luxury resort which were found constructed without adequate permissions, falling under the buffer zone, were sealed by the authority last month following the court order. There are nearly 130 hotels and resorts in the area.
The State Government has also assured the Gujarat High Court that it would resolve the issue of contradictions in its policies regarding granting permission for constructions in the buffer zone. local gram panchayats surrounding the sanctuary have allegedly given permissions for construction of hotels haphazardly. The High Court has not only stayed the gram panchayats but, also all concerned authorities from granting permission for eco-tourism faculties in the zone.
The Gujarat Government has also decided to form an eight-member committee comprising joint secretaries of Panchayat, Forest & Environment, Revenue as well as deputy secretary (home), principal of Gujarat Forest Rangers’ College and three deputy conservators of forest. These members will review existing norms and bring a single window system for clearances and find out solution.
The Gujarat High Court had taken a suo motu PIl in response to an anonymous letter opposing the proposal of a new eco-tourism zone in the South-East of the Gir Sanctuary in Amreli district. The court also addressed the issue of encroachments surrounding the sanctuary and ordered the Government to take action immediately.
Environmentalists and wildlife activists have been crying hoarse for years that illegal commercial properties have been mushrooming around the Gir Sanctuary putting to danger the only Asiatic lion abode in the world but nothing moved in the State Government till an anonymous letter reached the Gujarat High Court.
