Tourism-Related Construction Booming Around Sasan Gir National Park, Many Violate Rules

However, as the number of visitors increased, the demand for decent homestays, high-end hotels and related infrastructure near the park rose too. So did violations of rules meant to protect the ecological balance of the region, which is why the Gujarat government now plans to set up the Sasan Area Development Authority.

The proposed authority will cover as many as 24 villages, including Mendarda and Maliya Hatina regions. Officials said the authority will help curb illegal construction activities by strictly enforcing the ESZ regulations and take action against all unauthorised resorts in the vicinity of the Gir National Park.

Multiple resorts have mushroomed after the state government relaxed the construction norms in the eco-sensitive zone, spread over a 10 km area around the Park, via a notification in 2015. In just the past three years, the forest department issued about 550 no-objection certificates (NOCs) for construction of buildings for tourism and other purposes in the protected area in and around Sasan, says Nityanand Srivastava, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest.

While the 10-km area from the Gir National Park is declared an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), the state forest department gives permission for construction of commercial buildings depending on the distance these structures would be from the Park. There are specified rules and regulations for structures to be built within a distance of 1-2 km, 2-5 km, and 5-10 km.

In recent years, the forest department received complaints of violation of these regulations. Resultantly, it has ordered a probe and asked its officials to take strict action if violations are found, Srivastava added.

Consider this:

– In 1 Km Area From The Gir Forest Area

No construction for commercial or industrial purposes – such as homestays, guesthouses, hotels, restaurants and resorts – is allowed. The land cannot be converted for non-agricultural purposes either. The farmers in the area can build residential structures on only 5 per cent of the total land parcel they own.

– In 1-2 Km Area From The Park

Only low-rise buildings such as hotels, restaurants, resorts etc, having a maximum height of 13.5 metres, can be built to facilitate tourists. No other commercial activity is allowed. Again, this construction can be taken up on only 5 per cent of the total land parcel. However, land owners can build low-rise residential structures on 10 per cent of the land parcel. No construction activity is allowed within 50 metres of a stream or reservoir and within 100 metres of a river bank.

– In 2-5 Km Area

According to the provisions of the eco-sensitive zone, the chief wildlife warden can allow construction for commercial purposes. Construction for hotels, restaurants, homestays and resorts can be done on 25 per cent of the total land parcel but their height cannot exceed 13.5 metres. For other commercial purposes related to tourism only, construction is allowed on 15 per cent of the land parcel. No industrial activity is permitted.

– In 5-10 Km Area

A four-member committee headed by the Collector can permit construction for commercial as well as residential purposes in the 5-10 km area from the Park.

Despite these clear-cut regulations, construction activities for commercial purposes have continued in the Sasan area and the forest department is yet to act as, sources say, some of the illegal construction activities have the backing of influential figures in the state.

The rules mandate that whoever wishes to build a resort, hotel or other similar commercial property in the area has to first convert the agricultural land into a non-agriculture one. The person then has to secure an NOC from the forest department for non-agriculture land use. The forest department gives a conditional approval as per the norms relaxed in 2015.

However, once the applicants secure the NOC, they start expanding the structure. For example, if they have received permission to build a two-room residential structure, they would later add multiple rooms and, in many cases, start running hotels, resorts etc. Hence, the need for a regulator – the Sasan Area Development Authority.

Land Prices Skyrocket After Rumours

For more than a year, there had been speculation that Sasan would be declared a Union Territory and the entire area being declared a liquor-free zone. This had led to the price of land in and around Sasan almost quadrupling. However, the government has since cleared the air and initiated work on establishing the Sasan Area Development Authority.

The move by the government is also expected to lead to a substantial drop in the unrealistically soaring land prices in the Sasan area. The government has started the process of arranging the required land records from the local administration of the 24 villages.

With the establishment of the Sasan Area Development Authority, it is expected that the illegal construction and expansion of structures in the protected areas will be curbed. And the Asiatic Lions will again live freely in their natural habitat with less human interference.