Mount Abu Construction

NGT stays execution of Mount Abu's masterplan

Submitted by Webmaster on Thu, 16/06/2016 - 11:14am
Jun 16 2016 : The Times of India (Ahmedabad) - A K Sharma, Mount Abu

The National Green Tribunal (NGT), New Delhi, has ordered a stay on implementation of a master plan for Mount Abu prepared by the Rajasthan government, giving a reason to cheer for the local green crusaders.

NGT's principal bench has asked the state government and the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to respond to the petition filed by environment activist Arun Sharma within two weeks.

“We restrain the respondents or any other person from felling of trees. Constructions if any, raised presently would be subject to the orders that may be passed in the present application. The respondents would also not sanction any fresh plan for construction without specific leave of the tribunal,“ the NGT order stated.

The MoEF had declared Mount Abu as an eco-sensitive zone in June 2009 following recommendations of the Supreme Court-appointed Mohan Ram committee's recommendations that found the hill town to be an eco-fragile area and that immediate measures must be taken to stop ecological degradation.

The petitioner said that the master plan allows construction on the agricultural land and huge chunks of green hills would be destroyed for commercial construction considering a population increase by 2030.

Besides, any provision of buffer zone around any wildlife sanctuary or eco-sensitive zone has been thrown to the winds, where construction has come up right on the toes of Mount Abu.

Sharma said the master plan serves no benefit to the local denizens or hotel businesses, except to a handful of land satraps from various states.

Revised Mount Abu Zonal Master Plan 2030

Submitted by Webmaster on Fri, 14/09/2012 - 1:55pm


The original Mount Abu Zonal Master Plan 2030 was modified after listening to public objections and opinions, the changed zonal-plan is available for download as an layered PDF file here - http://bit.ly/MountAbuZonal (individual layers can be turned on/off for better visibility).

Supply limited land-usage and construction restrictions in eco-sensitive tourist destination "Mount Abu" makes land here high valued, and this is the reason voices against high-level corruption and favoritism to wealthy and capable have now started to surface. Local people and their elected Nagarpalika representatives have now came out publicly against the corruption, alleging the new Zonal master plan is made to profit a few by making their lands which fall in green area as commercial - where existing residential and commercial land is shown under Eco-sensitive green belt. Here is an EXCLUSIVE report from HBC news reporter - Mr. Kamlesh Prajapat.



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[EXCLUSIVE] Mount Abu Master Zonal Plan Draft 2030

Submitted by Webmaster on Mon, 19/09/2011 - 5:38pm

Thanks to Mr. Narayansingh Bhati, Nagar Palika Councilor, Mount Abu we are hereby able to post these "Mount Abu Master Zonal Plan 2030 Draft Files" for public use.

- Deepesh Agarwal


Draft Files for Zonal Master Plan Of Mount Abu Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) 2030 :
This draft is open for public objection, if there is anything you would like to comment pls. share with all by "anonymously" commenting below.

Developmental Activities To Be Banned Near Mount Abu

Submitted by Webmaster on Wed, 12/11/2008 - 7:13pm
Industrial and other developmental activities will soon be banned around famous cultural heritage and tourism hotspot Mount Abu nestled in the lapse of the Aravali range in Rajasthan.

The environment ministry has issued a draft notification to declare the area around the destination as a eco-sensitive zone so as to restrict industrial and other developmental activities for protecting its fragile environment.

The draft notification issued last month under the Environment (Protection) Act is applicable to Mount Abu Municipal Council area, sanctuary and adjoining forests regions covering 12 villages including Sanigaon, Jaogaon, Dilbara, Uriya, Jawal, Achalgarh, Salgaon, Torna, Dudhai, Hetamji and Arna to name a few.

"We have invited comments from the public in general. Final notification will be issued two months later," Deputy Director Neeraj Khatri in environment ministry told PTI.

Significantly, this is the first eco-sensitive zone declared in the Northen State wherein steps have been taken to protect the bio-diversity in the region particularly in Sanctuary spread over 288 kms which is visited by tourists in a large number every year.

Mount Abu, situated in Sirohi district comprising of tropical dry deciduous forests at lower altitude and evergreen forests at higher altitude is known for several endemic and rare species.

Besides, it has natural heritage as Nakki Lake and man made heritage like Dilwara temples. "Once the area is notified as eco-sensitive zone, the flora and fauna in the sanctuary-- there is a majority of Sloth Bears and endemic plants--will be protected," RN Mehrotra, Rajasthan chief conservator forest said.

Source : Archana Jyoti, New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI)
UPDATE: Mount Abu Eco Sensitive Notification