The Uttarakhand State cabinet approved a 377 sq km area for the proposed eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) for the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR) on 12 February. The proposal will be forwarded to the Central government. ESZ allotment: The creation of the ESZ has been an issue as the villagers protested villages in the ESZ fearing loss of livelihood due to the restrictions imposed by the creation of such a zone. The proposed ESZ does not include any village, for which the maximum area has been defined as 7.96 km. Earlier, the Uttarakhand high court had directed that a 10km area around CTR and other sanctuaries in Uttarakhand to be declared as ESZ. Corbett Tiger Reserve: Established on: 1936 Location: Nainital, Uttarakhand The park was named after a known hunter and naturalist Jim Corbett. It was established to protect the endangered Bengal tiger.
