JAIPUR: In compliance with orders from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court (SC) and National Green Tribunal (NGT), Alwar district administration has begun directing officials to shut down unauthorised hotels, resorts, mining operations, and commercial activities within the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
The sub-divisional officer (SDO) of Thanagazi sent letters to the tehsildars of Thanagazi and Pratapgarh, alongside the Thanagazi Municipality, to implement the measures.
Instructions emphasise the importance of closing unauthorised operations in line with the CEC’s recommendations in connection with ongoing Supreme Court hearings into the matter. These measures also correspond with the NGT Bhopal’s directives.
An official said following SC and NGT orders, a committee was established to identify and tackle illegal activities, including hospitality establishments and mining operations, whilst holding the officials who authorised such violations, responsible for them. The committee comprises representatives from various authorities, including the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change’s regional headquarters in Bhopal, the additional chief secretary of forest and wildlife, government of Rajasthan, the Alwar Collector, the principal chief conservator of forests, and the State Pollution Control Board’s member secretary, Jaipur. The court has directed this committee to proceed according to applicable regulations.”Last year, based on the committee’s guidance, a survey was conducted to identify illegally operated hotels, resorts, mining activities, and other commercial ventures in the Sariska Tiger Reserve area. Although some action was taken recently against these activities, no measures have yet been implemented in many areas,” said an official.
Meanwhile, a stakeholder, on condition of anonymity, said, “In the guise of CEC, the administration is issuing letters to many whose land conversions were done even before the tiger reserve was declared. This is harassment for many of us. Instead of promoting and focusing on tiger tourism, the administration is targeting genuine businessmen who brought investment and employment to the area.”
The CEC also advised aligning the sanctuary’s rationalised boundaries with the core/critical tiger habitat of the Sariska Tiger Reserve. A senior forest official said, “The state government will form an expert committee under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, to conduct a scientific study by June 30, 2025, for compliance. Similarly, the notification of the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the Sariska Tiger Reserve can only occur after the rationalization of the Critical Tiger Habitat, which is also expected to be completed by June 30, 2025.”
This recommendation stems from the disparity between the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary area (492.00 sq. km) and its declared Critical Tiger Habitat (881.11 sq. km).
The fragmented nature of the Critical Tiger Habitat presents legal and administrative challenges. The Critical Tiger Habitat should be rationalised based on tiger breeding patterns, ensuring no reduction in total area, whilst increasing the Wildlife Sanctuary area.
