SC Directs Raj Govt to Ban Mining in RTR Core Area

In order to protect the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, we deem it appropriate to direct the state...to take steps to ban mining in the core area of Reserve. BHUSHAN R GAVAI, Chief Justice of India

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has directed the Rajasthan government to take immediate steps to ban mining in the core area of the Ranthambore tiger reserve and has constituted a three-member committee to make recommendations for regulating entry of devotees and vehicles visiting an ancient temple lying within the critical tiger habitat.

Passing directions on an application highlighting threat to tiger habitat and its population due to illegal mining, unauthorized construction and a huge footfall of devotees to the temple, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai said: "In order to protect the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, we deem it appropriate to direct the state of Rajasthan to take steps to ban mining in the core area of the Tiger Reserve."

Going by the contents of the application filed by lawyer-activist Sanjay Kumar, that were endorsed by the expert panel of Central Empowered Committee (CEC), the court constituted a three-member committee having collector Sawai Madhopur, field director of Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and a member of the CEC to suggest a way out for regulating devotees to the Trinetra Ganesha Temple, located five kilometers inside the Ranthambore national park, that can balance the protection of tigers and needs of the devotees.

The bench in its order passed on May 30, uploaded on Tuesday, noted that a similar problem that arose at Sariska Tiger Reserve was dealt by an order of the top court in December 2024 by forming a committee that suggested entry of private vehicles to be restricted at three entry points to Sariska reserve. It further directed electric shuttle buses to ferry pilgrims to and from the temple, which is currently operational.