The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has decided to invite public objections and reconsider the proposed boundary alteration plan for Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, following Supreme Court criticism of the expedited approval process. This development, reported in The Indian Express on September 11, 2025, stems from concerns that the changes could allow over 50 closed mining sites to reopen near the reserve, potentially harming wildlife habitats and the Aravalli ecosystem. The court's August 6, 2025, hearing highlighted procedural flaws, prompting the ministry to issue a draft notification for transparency and compliance with legal requirements.
What is Sariska Tiger Reserve and Why is it Important for India's Wildlife Conservation?
Sariska Tiger Reserve, located in Rajasthan's Alwar district amid the ancient Aravalli hills, was established as a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and became a tiger reserve in 1978 under Project Tiger. Covering about 1,213 sq km of dry deciduous forests, grasslands, and rocky landscapes, it gained international attention in the early 2000s when poaching wiped out its entire tiger population of around 28 individuals by 2005. A successful reintroduction program began in 2008, translocating tigers from Ranthambore, and today it supports nearly 50 tigers as per the NTCA's 2022 census—one of the world's top big cat recovery successes. The reserve also hosts India's highest leopard density at 21.5 per 100 sq km (from the 2024 Status of Leopard in India report), along with endangered species like caracals, striped hyenas, sambar deer, nilgai, and over 200 bird species. The Aravallis, as India's oldest mountain range, play a vital role in preventing desertification from the Thar Desert, recharging groundwater, and forming wildlife corridors connecting Sariska to reserves like Ranthambore and Kumbhalgarh, making it essential for broader ecological stability in northern India.
What Does Boundary Rationalization Mean in the Context of Tiger Reserves?
Boundary rationalization refers to the process of redrawing a tiger reserve's core Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) and surrounding buffer zones based on scientific evidence of tiger movements, breeding, and habitat needs. The CTH is an inviolate core area free from human activities like mining or settlements to ensure safe breeding for tigers, while the buffer zone allows regulated uses such as grazing or eco-tourism to protect the core from external pressures. In Sariska's case, a Rajasthan government committee formed in January 2025, led by the Field Director, suggested adding 43 sq km of active tiger-breeding areas to the CTH but removing 48.39 sq km of human-impacted hilly forests, aiming to align boundaries with the Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary and reduce fragmentation. However, this approach has been called "tiger-centric" by critics, as the committee's report, highlighted in a Frontline article on August 1, 2025, focused only on tiger data, potentially overlooking impacts on other species like leopards and hyenas that rely on buffer zones for survival and movement.
How Does Mining Relate to the Sariska Boundary Changes and What are the Economic Implications?
Mining in the Aravallis is a major concern because Rajasthan is India's top mineral producer, with Alwar district alone having over 100 quarries for marble (where India ranks second globally, and Rajasthan contributes 90%), dolomite, limestone, and other stones. A Supreme Court order in May 2023 shut down 57 active mines within 1 km of the CTH to safeguard habitats, but the proposed rationalization could exclude these areas, allowing operations to resume and supporting local jobs for thousands in the sector. As reported in CNBC-TV18 on June 24, 2025, this raises risks of habitat fragmentation, pollution, and heightened human-wildlife conflicts, threatening the Aravalli ecosystem's role in biodiversity and environmental protection. Economically, mining adds 3-4% to Rajasthan's GDP, but conservationists argue for sustainable alternatives to balance growth with ecology.
What are the Legal and Procedural Challenges in the Sariska Boundary Approval Process?
The approvals for Sariska's plan were completed in just four days in June-July 2025, without public consultation or comprehensive studies on non-tiger species, violating a December 2024 Supreme Court directive requiring draft notifications for objections, as noted in The Wire on August 7, 2025. The Forest Rights Act (2006) mandates gram sabha approvals for changes affecting tribal communities, which was initially ignored. Political factors include criticism from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh in a June 29, 2025, statement in The Hindu, pointing to potential biases as both Union and Rajasthan environment ministers are from Alwar. Public backlash, including protests at Jantar Mantar and over 3,645 petitions via Jhatkaa.org, has amplified calls for transparency under the Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
How Does This Fit into India's Broader Tiger Conservation Efforts?
India has 55 tiger reserves spanning 78,000 sq km, with tiger numbers rising from 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2022, per NTCA data. Challenges like mining and habitat loss continue, and Sariska's pending Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notification—due by December 31, 2025—would prohibit polluting activities within 10 km, but delays have permitted encroachments. If approved without revisions, this case could influence other reserves, emphasizing the need to integrate economic needs with conservation under frameworks like Project Tiger, which has been active since 1973 to protect endangered species and ecosystems.
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