Balukhanda-Konark sanctuary periphery to be declared ‘Eco Sensitive Zone’

KONARK: Peripheral area of the Balukhanda-Konark sanctuary would be declared as ‘Eco Sensitive Zone’, said a Government notification issued by the State Environment and Forest Department. The preparatory work has already started, it added.

A meeting was organised with the presence of Puri wildlife division officers Prasanna Kumar Behera to demarcate and design the blueprint of the borderline of the sanctuary. According to the decision taken in the meeting, 84 square km sanctuary area along with its adjacent 45 revenue villages and beach area starting from Puri to Keluni river mouth near Tandahar under Astarang block in the district would be included in the Eco Sensitive Zone proposed by the Government.

The development works of the proposed zone would start following the submission of the blueprint of the project, the officials said in the meeting. One committee is formed to demarcate the borderline of the zone and its management where Puri Divisional Forest Officer is the chairperson of the committee.