Fulwari ki Naal now an eco senstive zone

Udaipur: Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change on June 17 officially declared Fulwari ki Naal in Udaipur as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). The decision will impact 127 panchayats within Kotda and Jhadol tehsils, spanning an area of 202.34 sq km around the Fulwari ki Naal Sanctuary.
The ESZ status aims to protect natural habitats and biodiversity.
The notification of Fulwari ki Naal as an ESZ follows a proposal sent by the forest department last year. The new status imposes strict regulations on commercial construction within the zone, including of hotels and resorts. Such measures are meant to preserve the natural flow of rivers and streams, essential for maintaining the region’s ecological balance.
Fulwari ki Naal Sanctuary, which covers 511 sq km, was designated a sanctuary by the state govt in 1983.
It provides a habitat for diverse wildlife, including sloth bears, badgers, leopards, crocodiles, and the Indian balloon frog.
To oversee the ESZ, a dedicated monitoring committee will be established. This committee will be chaired by the district collector and have representatives from various departments: Public Works Department (PWD), Water Resource Department, Mining Department, State Pollution Control Board, as well as Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of Jhadol and Kotda. Additionally, the committee will include Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) from sanctuary’s North and South divisions, along with two members from local wildlife, ecology, and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs).