New Delhi: After notifying Talacauvery Wildlife Sanctuary in Kodagu district as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) ranging from 1km to 16km around the boundary of this protected area, the Union Environment and Forest Ministry has notified 600 sq km of area housing 107 villages as an ESZ for the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) that includes three districts.

The gazette notification has been published on Aug. 22. The 600.7 sq km area of ESZ houses 72 revenue villages and 35 forest villages. The forest, spread over an area of 1,027.53 sq km, nudges three districts — Ramanagaram, Chamarajanagar and Mandya. It is also a part of the Mysore Elephant Reserve.

The notification prohibits 10 commercial and developmental activities while restricting 30 other activities. The prohibited activities include commercial mining, establishing polluting industries, hydroelectric projects, production of hazardous substances, discharge of untreated effluents and setting up of solid waste disposal and incineration units.

Other banned activities are setting up of commercial livestock and poultry units, new saw mills, brick kilns and a complete stop to the commercial use of firewood.

The regulated activities would include commercial hotel business. No new commercial hotels and resorts are permitted within one kilometre from the boundary of the protected area.

The State Government will also have to prepare a Zonal Master Plan. A 12-member Monitoring Committee, headed by the Mysuru Regional Commissioner and having the three local MLAs among the members, has been constituted for effective monitoring of the ESZ for the next three years.