The crucial eco-sensitive zone surrounding the turtle sanctuary in the Ganga river, a vital lifeline for aquatic conservation, is poised for a significant administrative overhaul. Authorities have initiated a fresh demarcation process to redefine the boundaries of this protected area spanning Prayagraj and its neighbouring districts of Bhadohi and Mirzapur.
Scope and Scale of the Sanctuary
The turtle sanctuary itself stretches over 30 kilometers along the Ganga. Within this total, a 10-kilometer segment falls under Prayagraj's jurisdiction, while the remaining 20 kilometers are distributed across Bhadohi and Mirzapur districts. To bolster the turtle conservation policy, a buffer of 10 kilometers around this entire sanctuary was previously declared an eco-sensitive zone. It is this peripheral zone that is now set to be meticulously remapped and its borders officially redefined.
The Demarcation Process and Key Officials
The administrations of all three concerned districts will collaboratively execute the new demarcation exercise. District Forest Officer (Prayagraj) Arvind Kumar provided details, stating, "A fresh survey will be conducted in 20 villages of Prayagraj, 40 of Bhadohi, and approximately 25 villages of Mirzapur." In total, 58 villages across the three districts fall within the ambit of this eco-sensitive area.
The operational responsibility for the survey lies with the revenue department, which will deploy teams from the respective tehsils. To ensure coordinated efforts, the chief revenue officer of Prayagraj has been appointed as the nodal officer for this significant demarcation project. The process is designed to be flexible, allowing for the area to be modified as needed based on the survey findings.
Potential Outcomes and Implications
The upcoming survey is expected to have concrete and possibly controversial consequences. A primary outcome is that the total area of the 10-kilometer sensitive zone may be reduced following the redefinition of its boundaries. Such a reduction could have a dual impact.
On one hand, it may open up possibilities for sand mining and other activities in areas that are excised from the restricted zone, potentially benefiting government revenue. On the other hand, any contraction of the protected buffer raises questions about the long-term efficacy of the conservation framework for the sanctuary, which has been a notable success.
The sanctuary provides a safe haven for a diverse population of turtles, leading to a documented increase in their numbers. It is a habitat for several rare and threatened species, including:
- The Striped Roofed Turtle
- The Black-Spotted Turtle
- The Soft-Shelled Turtle
- The Red and Brown Roofed Turtles
The fresh demarcation will ultimately determine the new boundaries of this sensitive zone, balancing ecological preservation with other regional interests. The results of this exercise will be closely watched by conservationists, local communities, and authorities alike.
