News · By ILA Infra · 2 min read
Rajaji eco-sensitive zone goes to the cabinet, October 2026: a week to answer the Supreme Court
Uttarakhand's environment department met on 15 October 2026 on the proposed eco-sensitive zones around Rajaji and the Valley of Flowers national parks. For Rajaji, the principal secretary as
What was decided
The meeting. Pioneer Edge reported on 15 October 2026 that Principal Secretary for Environmental Conservation and Climate Change RK Sudhanshu chaired a meeting on the proposed eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) for Rajaji National Park and the Valley of Flowers National Park. Officials went through the area and extent of the proposed zones, the zonal master plan, the monitoring committee, and the activities that would be prohibited, regulated and permitted in them.
Rajaji: cabinet and the court. For Rajaji, Sudhanshu directed that guidance be sought at the upcoming cabinet meeting to resolve related issues. He also directed that, in line with Supreme Court directions, legal advice be taken and a response on the state's current position be prepared and submitted within a week.
Pollution boards and DMs. Officials were told to take the required steps at the Central and Uttarakhand Pollution Control Boards on activities within the zones, and to prepare proposals after getting reports from the district magistrates of the districts concerned.
Balance with local needs. Sudhanshu said proposals should account for the areas' geography, environmental sensitivity and local needs, balancing conservation with local public sentiment.
Why it matters
Our earlier post on the Rajaji and Benog eco-sensitive zones explains the background: the Supreme Court set 17 November 2026 as the deadline for notifying ESZs around tiger reserves, Rajaji's zone is not yet final, and a default 10 km buffer applies until it is. Rajaji's boundary runs along the south-eastern edge of Dehradun district, near Doiwala, Bhaniyawala and the roads to Haridwar and Rishikesh.
What it means for land near Rajaji
This section is our view.
Until the zone is notified, assume the strictest case. A plot within 10 km of Rajaji's boundary may face limits on what can be built, especially commercial, mining or industrial use. Do not pay for a resort or commercial plot near the park on the promise that "the zone will be small".
Watch the cabinet. The cabinet's view, and the final notification, will set the actual width of the zone and the list of prohibited and regulated activities. When it is published, check your khasra against the map.
Homes are usually regulated, not banned. ESZ rules typically allow local residents' homes and regulate larger construction. The final notification will say exactly how.
To see what is listed in the city, browse property for sale in Dehradun on ILA Infra.
Sources
Buying or selling property in Dehradun and unsure about the paperwork? Call Neeraj Thapa on +91 98320 03494.
How we write these: the ILA Infra team reads the reports listed under Sources and links every one, so you can check each figure yourself. The section on what it means for buyers is our own view, not advice.
