Latest news with #RajendraTiwari
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Mining storm brews in Sariska over boundary rationalisation
1 2 Jaipur/Alwar: A recent decision by the State Wildlife Board to "rationalise" the boundary of Sariska Tiger Reserve's (STR) Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) has triggered sharp criticism from environmentalists, wildlife experts, and the opposition Congress. The move is seen as a backdoor attempt to reopen marble and dolomite mines in the ecologically sensitive region. The proposal involves removing 48.39 sq km of hilly, human-impacted forest from the existing CTH and adding 90.91 sq km from the buffer zone as compensation. Many of the mines likely to benefit are located in villages such as Khoh, Palpur, Tilwad, Gordhanpura, Mallana, Doondpuri, Jaisinghpura, and Kalwar, all within a 1 km radius of the current CTH—an area where mining has long been prohibited. RTI activist Rajendra Tiwari raised serious legal objections, stating, "The state has no authority to reduce the area of a notified tiger reserve without following due process. Forest Clearance Approval (FCA) under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 is mandatory. The diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes is neither permissible without any public interest. Here we cannot see any public interest. If the forest department continues to bend the rules, we will move the Supreme Court. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dhoni's Exclusive Home Interior Choice? HomeLane Get Quote Undo " Former Sariska Field Director Sunayan Sharma, IFS (Retd.), echoed these concerns, calling the move a covert push to restart mining. "The realignment appears deliberately drawn to benefit dormant mining leases," he said. "This southern stretch of Sariska is a crucial wildlife corridor that connects to Jamwa Ramgarh, Dausa, and Sawai Madhopur. Mining was stopped here in 1993 after tremendous effort. Reopening it would be an environmental catastrophe. The newly added areas lack adequate prey and are close to communities known for poaching." Congress National General Secretary and former Union Minister Bhanwar Jitendra Singh also hit out at the govt, alleging that mining mafias have hijacked the system. "Tigers vanished from Sariska 10–15 years ago. It was the Congress-led govt that airlifted tigers from Ranthambhore and revived the reserve. Today, Sariska is a global success story in tiger conservation. Despite a Supreme Court ban on mining, approvals were rushed through by the State and Central Wildlife Boards. I have never seen such blatant disregard for due process." A senior forest official, however, defended the move, saying it was based on recommendations by the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which highlighted inconsistencies in the 2007–08 CTH demarcation. The Supreme Court accepted the CEC's report in March 2024 and directed the Rajasthan govt to complete the rationalisation process by December 2025. The revised proposal is now set to be reviewed by the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SCNBWL) on June 26 in Dehradun. The original CTH boundaries, drawn up in 2007–08, were never formally notified due to ongoing land disputes. With Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav—both hailing from Alwar—the issue has gained priority status.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Supreme Court raps Jaipur Nagar Nigam over pollution at Jal Mahal Lake
The Supreme Court has expressed serious concerns over the ongoing environmental degradation of Jal Mahal Lake in Jaipur, based on a damning report by NEERI exposing continued pollution. JAIPUR: The Supreme Court took a stern view of the continued environmental degradation of Jal Mahal Lake in Jaipur and directed immediate compliance with the findings of the CSIR–National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). NEERI submitted a detailed report exposing ongoing pollution at the site. The Court asked Jaipur Nagar Nigam to file an affidavit by the second week of July 2025, detailing a timeline for implementing urgent remedial measures. The matter stems from a November 3, 2023, order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which banned the night market operating on the banks of Jal Mahal and imposed an environmental compensation of Rs 26 lakh on Jaipur Nagar Nigam for violating environmental norms. In its appeal before the Supreme Court, the Nagar Nigam was accused—based on reports from the Assistant Conservator of Forests—of discharging untreated sewage and wastewater into the lake. During earlier hearings, the Court summoned the CEO of Jaipur Nagar Nigam to explain the ongoing violations. However, the CEO failed to present any convincing measures for lake preservation, prompting the Court to observe that such negligence runs counter to the vision of making Jaipur a 'Smart City'. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 17+ Actors You Didn't Know Were Gay - No. 8 Will Shock Women Journalistate Undo The Court appointed NEERI as an expert agency to prepare a comprehensive environmental report and simultaneously stayed all proposed tourism and vending activities in the vicinity of the lake. It also directed the Nagar Nigam to ensure proper disposal of waste and complete prohibition of any commercial or informal activity near the lake. NEERI's report, submitted in April 2025, revealed that grey water, likely sewage, continues to flow into the lake through stormwater drains. It also noted that fish-feeding and dumping of organic matter were contributing to pollution. Based on these findings, NEERI recommended three immediate measures: stopping the inflow of sewage, implementing solid waste management in the surrounding areas, and halting the sale and use of fish-feed until further environmental study. Counsel appearing for petitioner Rajendra Tiwari further informed the Court that a Sulabh Shauchalaya was constructed near the lake and that its untreated effluents were also entering the water body. 'Taking note of this, the Court directed NEERI to conduct a follow-up inspection one month from now to assess the condition and impact of the public toilet. The Court reiterated that the continued discharge of untreated effluents into Jal Mahal Lake was unacceptable and a violation of Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a clean and healthy environment,' said Tiwari.
