Jamshedpur, June 12: The state forest department is planning to develop an eco-sensitive zone around Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary to reduce man-animal conflicts.

Senior officials of the sanctuary said that a proposal in this regard has already been sent to the Union government for approval. “The plan has been forwarded to the state and the district administration as well. The final go-ahead, however, has to come from the Centre,” Dalma range officer Sushil Oraon said.

According to the plan, a radius of 5km around the sanctuary will be declared as an eco-sensitive zone, which means the area has to be made free of human habitation. No construction activities will be allowed in the zone, a ban will be put on quarrying and mining work and felling of trees will be prohibited. Approval of the forest department will be required if trees are to be chopped off.

While the state tourism department will come up with a tourism plan for the zone, it will be implemented only after the forest and environment ministry shows the green light. If the project is approved, villages and a few apartments under construction on Dalma foothills along National Highway-33 will fall in the purview of the zone.

Oraon said man-animal conflict was on the rise in Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary as elephants often stray into human territory in search of food. If the area around the sanctuary is freed of settlements, the incidents of animal attacks and human retaliation will automatically reduce, he added.

Situated around 10km from Jamshedpur, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 193sqkm. The area will increase if the proposed zone eco-sensitive zone becomes a reality, thus providing more living space to the animals.