State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 09 Jun 2025

SC Ban Illegal Mining in Ranthambore

Why in News? 

The Supreme Court has ordered the Rajasthan government to immediately ban mining in the core area of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve and set up a committee to regulate temple visitor flow within the reserve.

Key Points

• Grave Threats to Wildlife: 
  • The application, filed by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), flagged multiple issues:  
    • Illegal mining on nearly 150 hectares near Uliyana village using heavy machinery, 
    • Unauthorised construction, High vehicular and human presence around the Trinetra Ganesha Temple inside the reserve. 
• Court’s Observations: 
  • Legal Concerns Over Mining: 
    • The court criticised state authorities for allowing mining in a protected area in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 
      • The Tiger Conservation Plan prohibits any mining, private vehicular movement, or construction inside core tiger habitats. 
  • Formation of Three-Member Committee: 
    • Drawing from a similar situation at Sariska Tiger Reserve, the bench formed a three-member committee to address the issues at Ranthambore. 
    • Based on Sariska’s model, the court suggested: 
      • Restricting private vehicles at designated entry points, 
      • Using electric shuttle buses to ferry devotees to the Trinetra Ganesha Temple. 
  • About Ranthambore Tiger Reserve: 
    • Ranthambore was declared a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1955, designated as a Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger in 1973, and notified as a National Park in 1980. 
    • It is located at the intersection of the Aravalli and Vindhya mountain ranges and lies at the confluence of seven river systems, making it ecologically unique and highly biodiverse. 
    • It includes Ranthambore National Park as well as Sawai Mansingh and Kailadevi sanctuaries.  
    • The Ranthambore Fort, after which the forest is named, is said to have a history of over 1000 years. It is strategically located on a 700 feet high hill within the park.  
    • Features:  
      • The reserve consists of highly fragmented forest areas, ravines, river channels and agricultural lands.   
      • It is connected to the Kuno-Palpur landscape of Madhya Pradesh through parts of the Kailadevi Wildlife Sanctuary, the ravine habitats of the Chambal and the forest areas of Sheopur.  
      • The tributaries of the Chambal River provide an easy route for the tigers to move towards Kuno National Park. 

Sariska Tiger Reserve 

• About: 
  • Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Aravali hills and forms a part of the Alwar District of Rajasthan. 
  • It was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1958 and was declared a tiger reserve later in 1978, making it a part of India's Project Tiger. 
  • It encompasses ruined temples, forts, pavilions and a palace. 
    • Kankwari Fort is located in the centre of the reserve. It is said that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh at this fort in the struggle for succession to the throne. 
    • It also houses a famous temple of lord Hanuman at Pandupole related to Pandavas. 
• Flora and Fauna: 
  • It is characterised by rocky landscapes, arid scrub-thorn forests, grasslands, cliffs, and semi-deciduous forests. 
  • It is dominated by dhok trees, salar, kadaya, gol, ber, banyan, gugal, bamboo, kair, etc. 
  • It also supports a diverse array of other animals such as Royal Bengal Tiger, leopards, sambhar, chital, nilgai, four-horned antelope, wild boar, hyenas, and jungle cats.