Phase 1 design draft in place, Haryana moves forward with Aravali jungle safari project

Indian Express

2 days ago

The Haryana government is moving forward with its ambitious plan to develop Asia's largest jungle safari in Gurgaon's Aravali region. With the forest department's preliminary design for the first phase complete, work on the multi-crore project—on around 10,000 acres of land—is expected to begin soon.
Last week, Manohar Lal, the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Energy, and Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, inspected the proposed site near Sakatpur village.
'Four gates will be constructed for entry into the jungle safari near Sohna, on the Taudu-Sohna road, in Naurangpur, and Sakatpur village,' Rao Narbir Singh, Haryana Forest Minister, said. Singh had accompanied the Union ministers to the site.
Inspired by the safaris at Sharjah, Vantara in Jamnagar, and Gir Sanctuary, the Aravalli jungle safari spanning Gurgaon and Nuh districts is a dream project of Union minister and former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
After reviewing the site, Khattar said, 'The project will play an important role in promoting tourism while preserving the natural beauty, biodiversity, and historical heritage of the Aravali mountain range. In the first phase, international-level facilities will be developed across 2,500 acres.'
Yadav added that the central government will fully support the project. 'Local species of plants will be planted here, and a wildlife-friendly ecosystem will be developed,' he added.
The jungle safari, which will feature diverse zones, including big cat habitats, an aviary, a herpetarium, botanical gardens, nature trails, and an underwater world, is expected to be completed in four phases. It was one of the promises made by the BJP in its manifesto released ahead of the Assembly elections in the state in October last year.
Besides boosting tourism and creating employment opportunities in surrounding villages, the project aims to conserve the fragile Aravali ecosystem and contribute to a balanced, resilient environment in the NCR. Complementing the safari is the 'Matru Van' campaign under the Aravali Green Wall Project, where about 20,000 trees will be planted to further boost greenery in the region.
'It will be significantly larger—about five times the size—than the existing largest curated safari park outside Africa, located in Sharjah,' one of the senior officers privy to the ongoing developments on the project disclosed.
'Emphasising ecological balance, the development will focus on planting local plant species and creating a wildlife-friendly ecosystem that supports diverse flora and fauna. The central government has assured full support, with key steps including setting up an Aravali Foundation to oversee project management and operations. Experienced international consultants are being engaged to guide the safari's development, ensuring technical and environmental standards are met,' the officer added.
Last month, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini accompanied Khattar and Singh to Vantara, after which Saini spoke about the state's jungle safari project. 'This ambitious project will not only promote green tourism in the state, but will also prove to be an important step towards the conservation of wildlife,' he had said then.
The Haryana government has not officially announced the project cost, but experts estimate the investment to range between Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,000 crore, reflecting the scale and ambition of this project. Sources said the government is wary of the 'financial issues', the 'revenue-generation model', and whether the project will be financially sustainable.
There are other issues, too. 'The project also faces stiff opposition from environmentalists. Several former Indian Forest Service officers have raised concerns about the potential ecological impact, including threats to groundwater levels and biodiversity. In February this year, several of these officers wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging that 'the primary purpose of any intervention in an eco-sensitive zone should be 'conservation and restoration' and not destruction'.
Officials, however, said that the Haryana government was considering alternative funding models, including public-private partnerships to share the financial burden and ensure the project's viability.