**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1422 in Lok Sabha, due to be answered on 09.02.2026, regarding the proposed reclassification of the Sariska Tiger Reserve's Critical Tiger Habitat (CTH) by the State Government of Rajasthan. It outlines the steps taken by the central and state governments, including public consultation, and the current status of the rationalization process. The final boundaries are not yet determined.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Proposal and Authorities Involved:**
* The State Government of Rajasthan proposed the rationalization of the Sariska Tiger Reserve boundaries.
* The proposal is being handled by state and central authorities in accordance with the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
* **Committee Recommendations and Approvals:**
* The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) recommended the rationalization on 22.07.2025.
* The State Board of Wild Life (SBWL) recommended the proposal, and the State government submitted it to the Standing Committee for the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL).
* The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) examined the proposal and recommended it based on ecological considerations.
* The SC-NBWL approved the proposal based on the recommendations of the SBWL and NTCA.
* **Public Notices and Objections:**
* District Collectors of Alwar and Kotputli-Behror published public notices on 28.11.2025 and 03.12.2025.
* Declarations regarding sanctuary areas were also issued by the District Collectors on the same dates.
* Proceedings for settlement of objections have been initiated by the District Collectors.
* A 30-day period was prescribed for submission of suggestions/objections to the public notice and a two-month period was prescribed for suggestions/objections regarding the declaration.
* **Mining Activity:**
* The rationalized boundaries of the CTH and Sariska Tiger Reserve, including the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), have not been finalized.
* The estimated number of additional mines likely to become operational after reclassification cannot be ascertained.
* Mining within one kilometer of the existing CTH boundary is prohibited.
* One Dolomite mine is currently operational in the surrounding area of the existing CTH.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** State Government of Rajasthan
**Impact:** Proponent of the rationalization proposal, responsible for its implementation.
**Action Required:** Complete the finalization of the rationalized boundaries for CTH and ESZ of the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
**Stakeholder:** District Collectors of Alwar and Kotputli-Behror
**Impact:** Responsible for public notices, declarations, and settling objections related to sanctuary areas.
**Action Required:** Conduct and conclude proceedings for settlement of objections regarding the areas proposed to be notified as sanctuary areas.
**Stakeholder:** Local Communities / Public
**Impact:** Potentially affected by changes in land use, mining regulations, and access to resources.
**Action Required:** Submit suggestions and objections regarding the public notice and declaration of proposed sanctuary areas within the stipulated time.
**Stakeholder:** Wildlife and Forest Ecology
**Impact:** Affected by any changes to the boundaries of the tiger reserve and associated regulations, particularly concerning mining activities.
**Action Required:** No immediate action required, but the implementation of the rationalization must adhere to safeguards to prevent adverse impacts.
Key Entities Referenced
Sariska Tiger Reserve: Tiger reserve in Rajasthan, subject of boundary reclassification proposal.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Act under which the rationalization of boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve is being undertaken.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The ministry responsible for answering the question and overseeing the relevant policies.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA): The Authority that examined and recommended the proposal for rationalization of Sariska Tiger Reserve based on ecological considerations.
Central Empowered Committee (CEC): Committee that recommended the rationalization of boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve.
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 thepublic 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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