Chandra Prakash Goyal, member of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) formed by the Supreme Court, visited Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) on Friday. This move follows a petition against cutting down the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around BNP. Mr. Goyal met local farmers and petitioners who brought the case to the Supreme Court. The petition states that cutting the ESZ leaves vital elephant corridors and ecologically sensitive spots outside protected areas. It also argues that using a fixed one-kilometre ESZ rule does not fit the park’s specific needs. Senior Forest Department officers, including Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Meenakshi Negi, briefed Mr. Goyal during his visit. He said, "BNP is a very important national park for Karnataka. Every park has an ESZ, and BNP also has one." Mr. Goyal explained the petition is about differences between the ESZ notified in 2016 and the final notification in 2020. He said, "The difference between the area of 2016 and 2020 is a bit detrimental to the wildlife and particularly to the elephants which need to be looked into. The petition has now been transferred to the CEC which I am a part of for putting up a report before the Supreme Court." The next hearing will be on January 7. Mr. Goyal promised the panel will submit a recommendation before then. "We will try our best to give some ecological semblance to the report," he added. On illegal mining near BNP, he said, "Mining is banned within one km of the national park or for that matter any protected area so if it is falling within one km, the administration will take a call." Local farmers raised concerns too. Somashekar from Kadajakkanahalli village said Anekal taluk, once the Ragi Bowl of Karnataka, is losing farmland due to encroachment. Farmer Shivashankar from Hindalwadi village stated, "Large-scale housing colonies around BNP are being built by politicians violating environment norms."