Bannerghatta ESZ Shrink Sparks Aravalli-Like Row; SC Panel to Visit Park

• A Supreme Court-appointed panel will visit Bannerghatta National Park on January 2 over a controversy regarding its shrinking Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ).
• A 2018 government notification reduced the park's ESZ from 268.9 sq km to 168.8 sq km, cutting the buffer width from 4 km to 1 km.
• Environmental activists allege the reduced protection exposes the forested area to mining and real estate interests, similar to the Aravalli hills dispute.
• Citizens filed a petition in May 2025, arguing the reduction defeats the purpose of an ESZ and weakens environmental safeguards.
• The Central Empowered Committee, led by Chandra Prakash Goyal, will assess the ecological impact and meet state officials.

Why It Matters: Bannerghatta's ESZ reduction sparks major environmental row, prompting Supreme Court intervention and panel visit.