Farmers living around Gir could soon get some relief from restrictions on routine agricultural work, with the Gujarat government considering changes to the proposed Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) rules.
The proposed changes could allow farmers to use tractors and other farm machinery, fence their agricultural land and construct wells, subject to safety conditions. However, barbed-wire fencing will continue to remain banned.
The move comes after farmers raised concerns over restrictions on activities they say are part of their regular farming work. Farmers in Gir-Somnath, Junagadh and Amreli have raised concerns about how the proposed ESZ conditions could affect cultivation, farm construction, electricity connections and fencing.
Officials have clarified that the government is not considering any reduction in the Gir sanctuary’s ESZ. The proposed changes are focused on easing conditions for farmers in the surrounding areas.
What could change for farmers?
Under the proposed relaxations, tractors and other farm machinery could be allowed in the ESZ. Fencing of farmland may also be permitted, although the proposed relaxation would not extend to barbed-wire fencing, which would remain prohibited.
Farmers could also be allowed to dig wells, but with safety measures in place. They would have to build parapets around wells to reduce the risk of lions accidentally falling into them.
The government has maintained that routine agricultural activities such as using tractors, digging wells, obtaining electricity connections and moving within agricultural land would not be prohibited.
ESZ area to remain unchanged
The proposed ESZ covers 2,061.8 sq km around the Gir Protected Area, with its extent ranging between 2.8 km and 9.5 km.
The area gazetted in 2016 had ranged from 0 to 17.9 km.
The government is not proposing to change the extent of the present ESZ. Instead, the latest exercise is aimed at relaxing some of the conditions that affect farmers.
According to the 2025 census mentioned in the story, Gujarat has 891 lions spread across 30,000 sq km in the Saurashtra region.
Proposal yet to get final approval
The proposed changes will first be incorporated into a report before the final proposal is sent to the Centre for approval.
The decision followed a meeting between forest and environment officials and legislators to discuss difficulties being faced by farmers.
Gujarat Minister of State for Forest and Environment Pravin Mali said the meeting was held as the matter is pending before the court.
Mali also said farmers who had already submitted claims would not face difficulties. If there had been any misunderstanding, he said, the government would discuss the issue with those affected and resolve it.
For farmers around Gir, the proposed changes could mean fewer restrictions on everyday agricultural work, while safeguards aimed at protecting the region’s lions would remain in place.
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