Sariska Tiger Reserve: Supreme Court Orders Mine Closures

May 20, 2024

The Supreme Court of India told the Rajasthan government on May 15 to close 68 mines that are less than one kilometer from the Sariska Tiger Reserve. This decision is part of a larger attempt to keep illegal mining out of the important habitat for tigers, which has been a problem since the 1990s. The court’s ruling backs up rules from the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and the Environment Protection Act of 1986, which both say that quarrying is not allowed near tiger reserves.

Historical Context and Judicial Interventions

A local NGO first brought the issue of mining in Sariska to the attention of the Supreme Court in October 1991 through a Petition in the Likeness(PIL) of the Parties . An interim order stopped mining in the reserve right away, and Justice M. L. Jain set up a fact-finding group. The next results confirmed that the 800 sq km protected area was very important. In April 1993, the court stepped up its efforts by telling 262 mines in this area to close down. By the middle of the 2000s, reports from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) showed that violations were still happening. This led to more court orders to build a one-kilometer safety zone around the reserve. But despite these attempts, progress was slowed down by actions that were not consistent across states and disagreements over where the borders should be.

Continued Challenges and Supreme Court’s Reinforcement in 2020s

In the 2010s, the Supreme Court became more strict. For example, in 2014, it reaffirmed its 2006 decision to stop any mining activity within a one-kilometer safety zone around the Sariska reserve’s Jamua Ramgarh. The problem lasted for another ten years. In 2022 and 2023, the Supreme Court changed how it did things to reflect how things were changing, but it kept a strict no-mine zone near conservation areas.

Issues with Boundary Demarcation and Local Concerns

It’s been harder to put these safety steps into action because the reserve’s boundaries aren’t always clear. There have been reports of mistakes between area statements and real maps, which created legal and administrative holes that made illegal mining easier. People in the area have also voiced their worries, especially about the fact that revenue villages were put into the tiger reserve without any thought, which they say violates their rights.

More About Sariska Tiger Reserve

The Sariska Tiger Reserve is in the Indian state of Rajasthan, in the district of Alwar.
It became a wildlife reserve in 1955 and was declared a tiger reserve in 1978.
All of Sariska’s tigers had been killed by poachers, by 2004.
In 2008, attempts to reintroduce tigers began. This was India’s first successful move of tigers from Ranthambore.
There are the remains of medieval temples and a fortress in the reserve.
Sariska is home to many animals besides tigers, including leopards, sambars, and chitals.
Sariska is part of India’s Project Tiger initiative.
The reserve covers approximately 800 square kilometers.

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