Centre stays all eco-tourism activities at Sammed Shikharji, directs Jharkhand govt to take necessary steps to ensure the same

New Delhi [India], January 5 : Amid protests by the Jain community against the Jharkhand government's decision to turn Sammed Shikharji Parvat Kshetra an eco-tourism destination, the Central government on Thursday stayed all such activities and directed the State government to immediately take all steps necessary to ensure the same.
This came after Union Minister Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with different representatives of Jain Community to discuss the entire issue and also the possible solution.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Union Minister specifically mentioned in the meeting that this Ministry recognizes the established fact that "Sammed Shikharji Parvat Kshetra is a sacred Jain religious place not only for the Jain community but for the entire country, and the Ministry is committed to maintain its sanctity."
The Ministry said that over the last few days has received several representations from different organizations representing Jain Samaj about the issues related to certain activities taking place at Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary that have adversely affected the sentiments of followers of Jain dharma.
"The grievances mention about the faulty implementation of provisions of the notification of the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary by the Government of Jharkhand. It has been mentioned that such negligence by state authorities has hurt their sentiments. In this regard, a meeting with different representatives of the Jain Community was invited by Union Minister Bhupender Yadav for discussing the entire issue and also the possible solution. The representatives turned up in large numbers and spoke about the current situation at Sammed Shikharji and also about the demands of the community to maintain the piousness of the place," Ministry said.
It further said that the representatives were apprised that while the Parasnath WL Sanctuary was established by the erstwhile State of Bihar in 1984 under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) was notified by the Government of India in consultation with the State Government of Jharkhand in 2019 under the provisions of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
"Eco-Sensitive Zones act as some kind of "shock absorbers" to the Protected Areas by prohibiting, regulating and promoting activities around Protected Areas. ESZ notification is not intended to promote uncontrolled tourism, and definitely not to promote all kinds of development activities within a Sanctuary boundary," the Ministry added.
Declaration of ESZ is in fact to restrict or regulate activities surrounding the sanctuary and, therefore, outside its boundary.
It was mentioned that while there are ample provisions in the Management Plan of the Parasnath WL Sanctuary that prohibit the activities that have been said to be adversely affecting the sentiments of the Jain Community, the Government and India can also issue guidelines to the monitoring committee to address any particular issue, considering the sentiments of the Jain Community at large.
"Bhupendra Yadav specifically mentioned that this Ministry recognizes the established fact that Sammed Shikharji Parvat Kshetra is a sacred Jain religious place not only for the Jain community but for the entire country, and the Ministry is committed to maintain its sanctity," the ministry said.
"Consequent to the meeting it has been decided that the Government of Jharkhand be directed to strictly enforce the relevant provisions Management Plan of the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary that specifically prohibit damage to flora or fauna; coming with pet animals; playing loud music or use loudspeakers; defiling sites or religious and cultural significance such as, sacred monuments, lakes, rocks, caves, and shrines; and sale of liquor, drugs, and other intoxicants etc; unauthorised camping and trekking etc on the Parasnath Hill," the Ministry further said.
"The State Government has been directed to strictly comply with these provisions. The state government has also been directed to strictly enforce the ban on the sale and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food items on Parasnath hill as provided in the said Office of Memorandum," it said.
Furthermore, in reference to the Eco Sensitive Zone Notification S.O.2795(E) dated 2nd August, 2019, issued to protect a buffer zone beyond the sacred Parashnath Hill; the implementation of provisions of Clause 3 of the said Eco Sensitive Zone notification is stayed forthwith, including amongst others all Tourism and Eco-Tourism activities. The State Government is directed to immediately take all steps necessary to ensure the same." Office of Memorandum further read
In addition, for effective monitoring of the provisions of the above Eco Sensitive Zone notification under sub-section (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Central Government has constituted a Monitoring Committee under clause 5 of the said notification. The State Government is directed to have two members from the Jain community and one member from the local Tribal community as Permanent Invitees to this Monitoring Committee, enabling appropriate involvement and oversight by important stakeholders.