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Showing contexts for: aravalli range in Rajendra Tiwari vs Union Of India Ministry Of Environment ... on 4 October, 2021Matching Fragments
1. Grievance in this application is against non-forest activities being carried out in Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary including Nahargarh Fort near Jaipur, Rajasthan.
2. Averments in the application are that Nahargarh sanctuary is located about 12 km from Jaipur on the Jaipur-Delhi highway. It encompasses a large area and is situated under the Aravali range. The Nahargarh Biological Park is famous for its vast flora and fauna. It has 285 species of birds, including white-naped tit. Nearby, Ram Sagar is famous among bird watchers. The Nahargarh Zoological Park houses animals such as Asiatic lions, Bengal tigers, panthers, hyenas, wolves, deer, crocodiles, sloth bear, Himalayan black bear, wild bear, etc. The • Department of Revenue, Government of Rajasthan, vide notification dated 22.09.1980, under the provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, declared the area mentioned in the notification as Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary. Vide notification dated 21.11.1961, under the Rajasthan Forest Act, 1953, the area of Nahargarh was declared as reserved forest land with effect from 15.01.1962. The District Collector, Jaipur issued proclamation order No. R-6/(24)39/6784 dated 21.08.1998 and decided right and concession of the interested persons under the provisions of Section 21 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, in compliance of order dated 22.08.1997 of the Hon'ble Apex Court. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi notified, on 08.03.2019, area to the extent of 0 (zero) to 13 kilometers around the boundary of Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary, in Jaipur district of Rajasthan as Eco-Sensitive Zone. According to aforesaid notification, the Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary is lying between latitudes 26"5615.0814 & 26'57'5 81"N and longitudes 75'48'55.70"E & 75'46'54 65"E. The Sanctuary was notified vide Government of Rajasthan notification No. F11 (39) Revenue/8/80 of dated 22nd September, 1980. The sanctuary is situated in the Aravalli ranges at Amber hills, Jaipur district of Rajasthan and is spread over an area of 52.40 square kilometers. The Sanctuary has "Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest" and 'Tropical Thom Forest" as per classification of Champion and Seth. The forest is spread over the area on various geological and soil formations over the hilly terrain of Aravallis and hence varies in composition; the Wildlife Sanctuary has a variety of habitats for diversified flora and major flora of this sanctuary includes solar (Boswellia serrata), gurjan (Linnaea graces), tendu (Dispyros melanoxylon), karaya (Sterculia urens) gugal (Commiphora mukul), amattas (Cassia fistula), awanla (Embellica officinals), binnas (liesparathusa cranulala), urn (Seccopetalum tomentosa), goya khir (Dishrostachya cinerra), sainja (Maringa plerygosperma), dhak (Butea monosperma), rahan (Soydmida febriguga), mokha (Scherebra swetenoides), rohini (Mallatus phillpnensis), ber (Zizhus jujuba), jamun (Syzyguim cumini), gular (Ficus glomerata), kadam (Mitragyna parvifolia), bahira Terminalia bellerica), dhaora (Anogeissus latifolia),kahjur(Phoenix syvestris), hingot (Balanites aegyptica), khair (Acacia catechu), sevan (Gmelia arborea), arjun (Terminalia arjuna), neem (Azadirachta indica), peepal (Ficus religiosa), bargad (Ficus benghalensis), shiham (Dalbergia sissoo), bijasal (Pterocarpus marsupium), kakon (Flacourita indica), kharni (Wrightia Unctoria), dudhi (Wrightia tomentosa), jhinjha (Bauhinia recemosa), casaeria (Casaeria tomentosa), barn (Creataeva releglosa), bel (Aegle marmelose), ron (Acacia marmelose), Lisora (Cordia myxa), churel (Holoptelia intergrifoila), aam (Mangifera andica), Imli (Tamanndus indica), kaith (Limonia acidissima), siris (Albizzio lebbek), semal (Bombax celba), celastrus Cleastrus paniculates), etc. The Sanctuary has variety of habitats for diversified fauna. Fish species recorded from of this Sanctuary include catal (Calla calla). greyer (Channa marullus), lanchi (Walago attu), mahseer (Tor tor), mirgal (Cirhinus mrigala), roho (Labeo rohlta, savank (Channa punctatus), seenghari (Mystus seenghala). Apart from fishes, the common Indian toad (Bufo melanostictus), common frog (Rana tigerina), banded krait (Bugorus lasciatus), cobra (Nara naja), common krait (Bungarus caeruleus), fresh water swamp crocodile (Crocodylus palustris). Indian python (Python molurus), north Indian flap shelled turtle (Lissemys punctata punctata), rat snake (Ptyas mucosus), leopard (Panthers pardus). etc. the main fauna of the sanctuary. The Durg Cafeteria situated in the Naharagh Fort is operating by the respondent Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation limited (in short hereinafter referred to as 'RTDCT) under the license issued by a nominal fee of Rs 25000/- vide receipt dated 22.02 2013 by the respondent Excise Department. The respondent Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Rajasthan, Jaipur issued order dated 24.06.2011 whereby certain guidelines were set out for allowing entry in the Sanctuary area. It is specifically mentioned in the said order that in all other sanctuary areas permission for entry and stay in the sanctuary area will be from sunrise to sunset, fixed the license fee for nature guides, entry fee for visitors, vehicles were also fixed. Further, the Forest Department, Government of Rajasthan vide notification dated 20.07.2011 amended the Rule 23 of the Wildlife (Protection) (Rajasthan) Rules, 1977 and issued fees structure for venous categories.
15. With regard to facilities provided to tourists, operative timing of all facilities is restricted from 10 Am to 10 Pm, and the same complies rigorously. All these facilities are provided under GF & AR and RTPP Act, 2012.
16. The Fort is built on the oldest mountain range of the world, Aravalli Hills, 15 kilometres from Jaipur, can be reached through private transportation only, therefore parking facility is managed by the Department of Archaeology & Museum Rajasthan since 2000 which contributes to guests' pleasant experience at a destination, resulting in potential benefit in the form of repeat visits. Parking facility is reserved right as per clause 14 of order dated 21.08.1998 which explicates that transport facilities such as Truck, Bus, Jeep, personal vehicles, and other means to ferry are permitted as per the present arrangements. To establish parking zone, the felling of trees is not allowed, and no tree has been cut so far to carve out the parking space.