In a significant move to protect wildlife in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, the Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Rajasthan government, seeking its input on measures to regulate traffic to the Pandupol Hanuman Temple located within the reserve’s core area. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has raised alarms about the adverse effects of unchecked private vehicle movement on the local fauna, prompting the court’s intervention.
The bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai, K V Viswanathan, and Sandeep Mehta, called for a response by September 11, acknowledging the state’s agreement with many of the CEC’s recommendations. The concerns are primarily about the potential disruption to tiger breeding and the broader ecosystem caused by extensive vehicular traffic.
Advocate K Parameshwar, serving as amicus curiae, highlighted the CEC’s suggestion of banning private vehicles altogether in favor of electric shuttle buses to ferry devotees to the temple. He noted that the Tiger Conservation Plan, initiated in 2015, had expired this March without renewal, underscoring a lapse in continuous protective measures for the reserve.
Further innovative solutions proposed by the CEC include the construction of a ropeway, an elevated road, twin motorable tunnels, or an electric tramway. Such infrastructure could minimize human impact while maintaining accessibility to the temple.
In discussions, the state’s counsel revealed plans to present an affidavit detailing actions being undertaken to address these issues. Meanwhile, Justice Gavai hinted at a possible court directive to replace private vehicles with electric buses within the reserve to cut down on the ecological footprint.
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This judicial scrutiny comes after the Supreme Court established a high-level panel last year aimed at devising a permanent solution to preserve the rich biodiversity of Sariska, which is frequented by large numbers of devotees annually.
