PARASNATH HILLS - ENVIRONMENT
News: Following
protests, Centre stops tourism projects in Jharkhand’s Parasnath
What's in the news?
● The
Union Environment Ministry on January 5 withdrew permission for tourism and
eco-tourism activities in the vicinity of the Parasnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Jharkhand.
Key takeaways:
● A
long-standing proposal by the Jharkhand Government to develop the Parasnath
Hills in Jharkhand as an eco-tourism site.
● However,
the location is of significant religious importance to Jains.
Eco-sensitive zone:
● The
centre declared areas around the Parasnath wildlife sanctuary as an
eco-sensitive zone in 2019.
● The
eco-sensitive zone, according to provisions of the Environment Protection Act,
is a buffer zone surrounding a ‘Protected Area.’
● Clause 3 of Environment
Protection Act - allowing tourism activites in the
eco-sensitive zones unlike protected zones, where there is no scope for
tourism.
Parasnath Hills:
● It
is located towards the eastern end of the Chota Nagpur Plateau in
the Giridih district of the Indian state of Jharkhand.
● Named after Lord
Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara.
● On
the mountain, there are Shikharji Jain temples, an important tirthakahetra.
● At
1365m Parasnath is the highest mountain peak in the state of Jharkhand.
● It
is a major pilgrimage site. Out of 24
thirthankaras of Jains, 20 got nirvana on Parasnath hills.