Rajkot: Ten years after it was notified as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), a committee of monks in Girnar, Junagadh, have demanded scrapping of this important conservation status for the wildlife sanctuary that houses 54 lions so that all religious activities can be organized freely.The demand, which is among 59 other demands, made by Girnar Sanrakshan Samiti, has raised the hackles of wildlife conservation groups and forest department officials who fear severe impact on this already fragile ecosystem if this protective cushion around the habitat is removed.Established in 2008, Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, around 50km from the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, was declared ESZ in 2016 due to an encouraging rise in the number of lions in the hills and forest.The Samiti last week organized a rally in Junagadh and submitted a memorandum listing 60 demands.Several demands, however, directly conflict with sanctuary regulations. These include electricity connections at all “Sanatan sites”, permanent permission for annual festivals, construction of roads, and installation of an 11 kV power line up to the Dattatreya peak. Along with exclusion of the entire area from the ESZ, they also sought exemption of their sites from forest rules, claiming these existed prior to such regulations.Other demands include permission for night stays, regular religious gatherings, and the use of plastic bags within the protected area for carrying milk and water. The Samiti has also sought 200–250 acres of land to organise the annual Maha Shivratri fair.“This is a critical wildlife habitat. From just four lions in 1999, the numbers have swelled to 54 due to the sustained conservation efforts. Any relaxation will directly affect wildlife and increase the risk of man-animal conflict,” said a forest officer, requesting anonymity. Conservation activist Bhushan Pandya said such demands are incompatible with sanctuary norms. “Any relaxation would require approval from both state and national wildlife authorities,” he added.
