Wild animals like jungle cats, rhesus macaque, sambhar, chital, wild boar and tiger are found in the national park. Photographs: Amit Shanker/CSE
Wildlife & Biodiversity

Caught up between faith and forest, it is a tightrope walk for authorities at Sariska Tiger Reserve

Supreme Court has asked Rajasthan government to give ‘due consideration’ to pilgrims’ sentiments at a temple situated within Sariska

DTE Staff

A Supreme Court bench has ruled that while environmental conservation is needed, pilgrims’ devotion should also be considered when conducting forest administration at Rajasthan’s Sariska Tiger Reserve.

The issue came up at the apex court as the movement of private vehicles within the reserve was about to be quashed by next year.

The entrance to Pandupol Hanuman Temple in Sariska.

Instead of allowing private vehicles within the reserve, the state government had offered 20 e-buses which would fetch devotees to and from the temple.

However, the temple representatives asserted that 20 buses would be insufficient for a footfall of 6,000-7,000 devotees on a weekly basis.