Lok Sabha Question No. 1422 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Reclassification of Critical Tiger Habitat
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Dushyant Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1422

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## Reclassification of Critical Tiger Habitat

## 1422.  SHRI DUSHYANT SINGH:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the proposal of the State Government of Rajasthan to rationalise the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  invited  public  objections  and  undertaken  ecological  and legal assessments before finalising the proposal, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Central Empowered Committee or the National Tiger Conservation Authority has submitted any report or recommendation on the matter, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the  number  of  dolomite  mines  currently  active  in  the  surrounding  region  and  the estimated number of additional mines likely to become operational in the event of such reclassification,  along  with  the  safeguards  envisaged  to  prevent  adverse  impact  on wildlife and forest ecology?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) to (d) The  proposal  for  rationalization  of  boundaries  of  Sariska  Tiger  Reserve  is  being undertaken  by  the  relevant  authorities  State  and  Central  Government  as  per  the  provisions  of  the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) as per their report dated 22.07.2025 has recommended the rationalization of  boundaries of the  Sariska Tiger  Reserve.  Subsequently the  State  government submitted the proposal for rationalization of the Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) with the recommendation of State Board of Wild Life (SBWL) for consideration of Standing Committee for National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL). The proposal was then examined by the National Tiger Conservation  Authority  (NTCA)  and  recommended  the  proposal  for  rationalization  based  on ecological  considerations.  Based  on  the  recommendation  of  SBWL  and  NTCA  the  SC-NBWL approved the proposal.

Further in this regard, as informed by the State government, the public notices were published by the District  Collectors  of  Alwar  and  Kotputli-Behror  vide  letter  No.  5089  dated  28.11.2025  and  letter No. 7289 dated  03.12.2025,  respectively.  Further,  declarations  regarding  the  areas  proposed  to  be notified as sanctuary areas were also issued by the District Collectors of Alwar and Kotputli-Behror vide letter No. 5102 dated 28.11.2025 and letter No. 7322 dated 03.12.2025, respectively. In these declarations, proceedings for settlement of objections have been initiated by the District Collectors. A period of 30 days has been  prescribed  for  submission  of  suggestions  /  objections  regarding  the public  notice  and  a  period  of  two  months  has  been  prescribed  for  submission  of  suggestions  / objections regarding  the  declaration  to be submitted  within  the stipulated  time to  the  office  of the Additional District Collector (Second) concerned.

The  rationalized  boundaries  of  the  CTH  and  Sariska  Tiger  Reserve  and  its  corresponding  ESZ boundary, have not yet been finalized and, therefore, estimated number of additional mines likely to become operational in the event of such reclassification cannot be ascertained at present. Further, as per the information provided by the State government, mining within one kilometer of boundary of the existing CTH has been prohibited. As per the information received from the State government, one Dolomite mine in the surrounding area of existing CTH of Sariska Tiger Reserve is operational.

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