Why in News?

• Recently, the Supreme Court halted all mining activities being undertaken around the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. No mining activity will be permissible within one-kilometre radius of a Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH).

Key Points:

=> The court asked the Rajasthan government to formulate a closure plan or take necessary steps for compliance with its orders.

=> The Rajasthan government told the court that the prohibition on mining, as ordered in April 2023, was applicable to the Eco-Sensitive Zone (of 1 km) from National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries and it did not apply to Tiger Reserves.

=> The judgment of April 2023 stated that mining within the national park and wildlife sanctuary and within an area of 1 km from the boundary of such national park and wildlife sanctuary shall not be permissible.

=> According to the court, Section 38XA of Wildlife Protection Act 1972 shows that tiger reserves stand on a higher pedestal than wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

Sariska Tiger Reserve:

=> About:

• Sariska Tiger Reserve is located in Aravali hills and forms a part of the Alwar District of Rajasthan.
• Sariska was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1955 and was declared the tiger reserve later in 1978, making it a part of India's Project Tiger.
• The Reserve houses ruined temples, forts, pavilions and a palace.
• Kankarwadi fort is located in the centre of the Reserve and it is said that Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had imprisoned his brother Dara Shikoh at this fort in struggle for succession to the throne.
• The Reserve also houses a famous temple of lord Hanuman at Pandupole related to Pandavas.

Flora and Fauna:

• The Reserve is immensely rich in flora and fauna, and is famous for Royal Bengal Tiger.
• The park has populations of leopards, Nilgai, Sambar, chital etc.