Siliguri, July 15 -- In a significant decision aimed at balancing environmental conservation with urban and industrial development, the West Bengal government on Wednesday resolved to recommend reducing the proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary from a five-kilometre radius to one kilometre.
The decision was taken at a high-level meeting held at the State Guest House in Siliguri under the chairmanship of Forest Minister Manoj Kumar Oraon. The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Finance Anandamay Barman, Tourism Minister Shankar Ghosh, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista, representatives of the forest department, tea plantation bodies, industrial organisations, builders' associations, and other stakeholders...