Facing rising ecological threats in one of India’s premier tiger reserves, the Supreme Court has directed the Rajasthan government to impose an immediate ban on mining within the core area of Ranthambore. The apex court also ordered the formation of a three-member committee tasked with regulating the movement of vehicles and pilgrims visiting an ancient temple situated within the reserve, to safeguard the fragile ecosystem.
The decision, delivered on May 30 and made public the following Tuesday on June 2, came in response to a petition highlighting the growing threats to tiger populations due to illegal mining, unregulated tourism, and increasing human encroachment. The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices A.S. Bopanna and M.M. Sundresh, noted that the escalating human activity within the protected area was having a “direct and indirect” impact on the local ecology and wildlife.
“In order to protect the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, we deem it appropriate to direct the state of Rajasthan to take steps to ban mining in the core area of the reserve,” the bench stated in its order.
The newly constituted committee includes the Collector of Sawai Madhopur, the Field Director of the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, and a member of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). Their responsibility is to assess the impact of pilgrimage-related movement and propose phased solutions to reduce ecological damage. The court emphasized that similar concerns had previously been addressed in the Sariska Tiger Reserve and should now guide the strategy at Ranthambore.
The court took serious note of the widespread illegal mining that has consumed nearly 150 hectares of land in and around the reserve, especially in the Uliyana village region. Mining operations, reportedly using heavy earthmoving machinery such as dumpers and tractor trolleys, have disturbed the habitat of endangered species like tigers and leopards. The sound and activity generated by these operations severely alter animal behavior and could even drive wildlife away from the reserve.
Advocate Bansal, representing the petitioners, highlighted how the illegal extraction of limestone, especially during pilgrimages, further degraded the area. Pilgrims often use rocks illegally sourced from the reserve to construct or repair temples and other structures. Additionally, the court was informed that plastic waste and vehicular pollution are on the rise, especially during weekends when pilgrim traffic spikes.
The numbers are staggering. According to the application presented to the court, pilgrim footfall can exceed 10,000 on Sundays and nearly 6,000 on Fridays. Even weekdays see around 2,500 visitors daily. The six-kilometre route leading to the temple has turned into a congested corridor, filled with jeeps, taxis, motorcycles, and even private vehicles. The petition flagged a weekly average of over 7,500 vehicles entering this critical wildlife area.
The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 clearly prohibits such activities in core areas of tiger reserves unless permitted under the Tiger Conservation Plan. However, loopholes and administrative delays have allowed unchecked human activity to continue. The court has now instructed the state government to submit a comprehensive status report within eight weeks. This report must detail how Rajasthan intends to curb the illegal operations and regulate religious tourism that threatens the tiger reserve.
Established in 1973, Ranthambore is one of India’s oldest tiger reserves and is internationally renowned for its tiger sightings and biodiversity. Nestled between the Aravalli and Vindhya hill ranges, the reserve serves as a sanctuary not just for tigers, but also leopards, marsh crocodiles, sloth bears, and a variety of bird species. However, in recent years, growing human interference has made its conservation a pressing concern.
The Supreme Court’s directive has been hailed by environmentalists and conservationists as a long-overdue intervention to save one of India’s most iconic wildlife habitats. The coming weeks will be crucial as the state prepares its response and outlines actionable steps to comply with the court’s order.
As the nation watches, the fate of Ranthambore and the tigers that call it home—now depends on swift and sincere action from the Rajasthan administration.
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