Mining storm brews in Sariska over boundary rationalisation
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Jaipur/Alwar: A recent decision by the State Wildlife Board to "rationalise" the boundary of Sariska Tiger Reserve's (STR) Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) has triggered sharp criticism from environmentalists, wildlife experts, and the opposition Congress.
The move is seen as a backdoor attempt to reopen marble and dolomite mines in the ecologically sensitive region.
The proposal involves removing 48.39 sq km of hilly, human-impacted forest from the existing CTH and adding 90.91 sq km from the buffer zone as compensation. Many of the mines likely to benefit are located in villages such as Khoh, Palpur, Tilwad, Gordhanpura, Mallana, Doondpuri, Jaisinghpura, and Kalwar, all within a 1 km radius of the current CTH—an area where mining has long been prohibited.
RTI activist Rajendra Tiwari raised serious legal objections, stating, "The state has no authority to reduce the area of a notified tiger reserve without following due process. Forest Clearance Approval (FCA) under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is mandatory. The diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes is neither permissible without any public interest. Here we cannot see any public interest. If the forest department continues to bend the rules, we will move the Supreme Court.
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Former Sariska Field Director Sunayan Sharma, IFS (Retd.), echoed these concerns, calling the move a covert push to restart mining. "The realignment appears deliberately drawn to benefit dormant mining leases," he said. "This southern stretch of Sariska is a crucial wildlife corridor that connects to Jamwa Ramgarh, Dausa, and Sawai Madhopur. Mining was stopped here in 1993 after tremendous effort. Reopening it would be an environmental catastrophe.
The newly added areas lack adequate prey and are close to communities known for poaching."
Congress National General Secretary and former Union Minister Bhanwar Jitendra Singh also hit out at the govt, alleging that mining mafias have hijacked the system. "Tigers vanished from Sariska 10–15 years ago. It was the Congress-led govt that airlifted tigers from Ranthambhore and revived the reserve. Today, Sariska is a global success story in tiger conservation.
Despite a Supreme Court ban on mining, approvals were rushed through by the State and Central Wildlife Boards.
I have never seen such blatant disregard for due process."
A senior forest official, however, defended the move, saying it was based on recommendations by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which highlighted inconsistencies in the 2007–08 CTH demarcation. The Supreme Court accepted the CEC's report in March 2024 and directed the Rajasthan govt to complete the rationalisation process by December 2025.
The revised proposal is now set to be reviewed by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) on June 26 in Dehradun.
The original CTH boundaries, drawn up in 2007–08, were never formally notified due to ongoing land disputes. With Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav—both hailing from Alwar—the issue has gained priority status.
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