With reference to 'Eco-Sensitive Zones', which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Eco-Sensitive Zones are the areas that are declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 2. The purpose of the declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones is to prohibit all kinds of human activities in those zones except agriculture. Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Explanation
Option (d) is correct because Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) are notified under the **Environment (Protection) Act, 1986**, and they do not prohibit all human activities but rather categorize them into prohibited, regulated, and permitted (e.g., ongoing agriculture is permitted). Statement 1 is a common trap because while ESZs surround areas governed by the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, their legal authority specifically derives from the 1986 Act to manage the transition between high-protection and low-protection areas. The core concept being tested is the **statutory basis and the "shock absorber" regulatory mechanism** used to minimize the impact of industrialization on fragile ecosystems.