With an aim to conserve and safeguard tiger habitat, the operation of private vehicles and roadways buses will not be allowed in Sariska Tiger Reserve. Also, the food prepared in Pandupol Hanuman temple will be banned. The action will be imposed after March 31, 2025.
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had presented a report in the Supreme Court for the conservation of tigers and securing their habitat in Sariska. In the report, CEC had recommended banning all types of private vehicles in Sariska after March 31, 2025, which has been accepted.
In its report presented in the Supreme Court on July 22, the committee said that due to the arrival of private vehicles, tiger habitat management is being adversely affected. The CEC had also admitted that a large number of devotees came to visit the Pandupol Hanuman temple, 22 kilometers inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve. The Supreme Court has approved this.
In the year 2025, the operation of private vehicles and roadways buses will stop in Sariska Tiger Reserve of Alwar. Not only this, the food prepared in the temple of Pandupol will also be banned.
Private vehicles are used to reach the temple.
Tiger habitat management is being adversely affected due to the arrival of vehicles. For this, CEC had recommended that apart from starting the facility of electric shuttle buses instead of private vehicles to go to the temple, other options like elevated road, tram-way, tunnel, rope-way, sky-way should also be explored.
After the implementation of CEC’s recommendation in Sariska, strictness will be imposed and operation of private vehicles will be stopped.
Rajasthan Roadways to operate electric buses during the fair
CEC has said in its recommendations that during the fair held in Sariska every year, Rajasthan Roadways should also ensure the operation of electric buses here. After March 31, 2025, the entry of normal roadways buses will be stopped here.
Apart from banning the food prepared in Pandupol Hanuman temple, it has also been recommended to allow only bhog and prasad brought from outside. The temple trust has also been asked to do proper waste management.
It is noteworthy that Pandupol Temple is at a distance of 18 kilometers from the main gate of Sariska. A fair is held here every year on the Ashtami day of Shukla Paksha in Bhado. A large number of people from far away places come to this fair.
There are currently 43 male-female tigers in Sariska. These recommendations have to be implemented for their conservation.
Special Tiger Protection Force should be deployed
CEC has said in its recommendation that in view of the increasing number of tigers in the villages around Sariska Tiger Reserve, there is a possibility of human-animal conflict and illegal hunting. In such a situation, the Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) should be deployed in Sariska by 31 December 2025.
The unauthorized constructions taking place in the buffer zone should be stopped with immediate effect. Along with this, hotels, resorts and restaurants already built in the buffer zone should have permission from NBWL and NTCA. This should be strictly followed.
Currently 43 tigers in Sariska Tiger Reserve
Sariska was without tigers 19 years ago. It was declared Sariska Tiger Reserve in 1978-79. It has 882 square kilometers of forest area. At that time the number of tigers here was around 40 to 44, which gradually decreased.
