Subscribe
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on April 9, 2025, directed the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board to submit an action taken report in light of a report filed by the joint committee. The panel report dealt with alleged forest encroachment that happened during the construction of an aerial ropeway connecting the base of Savitri Mandir hill to its summit in Pushkar.
Rest of the respondents have been directed to submit their reply within a period of two weeks. The project proponent (M/s. Damodar Ropeways & Infra Ltd.) has also been directed to file their reply within two weeks.
Counsel for the applicant pointed out that the activities of the project proponent are in contravention to the environmental clearance granted and in violation of environmental rules.
The application alleged that a license agreement was executed on March 2, 2015, between the governor of Rajasthan acting on behalf of the state government and the M/s. Damodar Ropeways & Infra Ltd. to construct, operate and maintain the aerial ropeway system. The agreement was executed in accordance with the provisions of the Rajasthan Ropeways Act 1996 and the project proponent was permitted to utilise 0.874 hectares of designated forest land for the establishment and operation of the ropeway.
It was alleged that under the garb of construction and operation of the ropeway, the project proponent started encroaching upon the land that was specifically allocated to the Savitri Devi mandir. It was also alleged that the proponent has also encroached the additional forest land, causing significant environmental damage.
A report filed by the committee found the presence of permanent constructions and structures including ticket counter, washrooms, cafeteria and septic tank on forest land. An additional 1,280.06 square metres of land has been encroached from the forest land in violation of environmental rules without permission from any authority. Further, there is a diesel generator for which there is no permission given by the competent authority.
The central bench of the NGT on April 8, 2025, directed a four-member joint committee to look into allegations of illegal construction and non-forest activities within the Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary. The court directed the committee to visit the site and submit a factual and action taken report.
In addition, the tribunal also directed respondents which included the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; State of Rajasthan, through Additional Chief Secretary of Forest and Wildlife and Collector, Jaipur district to submit their reply.
The issue raised in the application is encroachment of land of village Amer which comes under reserved forest and “Vankhand Amer-54 of Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary”.
The Assistant Conservator of Forest, Nahargarh, vide orders dated May 26, 2023, and September 1, 2023, has issued directions to the Regional Forest Officer, Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary to remove the encroachment by the private parties but the same has not been done till date.