https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Supreme Court Halts World’s Biggest Safari Project in Aravalis Over Ecological Concerns: Haryana’s Rs. 1,000 Crore Dream on Hold!

Supreme Court halts Haryana’s proposed Aravali Zoo Safari project citing ecological risks and pending environmental definitions
Supreme Court
Indian Masterminds Stories

In a landmark move balancing development with environmental preservation, the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday halted the ambitious Aravali Zoo Safari project proposed by the Haryana government. Touted as the world’s largest jungle safari, the 10,000-acre initiative aimed to feature big cat zones, an underwater safari, and house over 180 species of birds and animals across Gurgaon and Nuh districts.

Also Read: Fleeing Sariska Tiger ST-2303: Haryana Forest Dept Takes Bold Step to Secure Wandering Cat, Deploys Giant Cage

The apex court’s decision came in response to a petition filed jointly by five retired Indian Forest Service (IFS) officers and the NGO People for Aravalis, represented by advocate Ms. Shibani Ghosh. The bench, led by Chief Justice Mr. B.R. Gavai and Justice Mr. K. Vinod Chandran, directed the Haryana government to submit a detailed response within a week and ordered it to “not take any step towards implementing the project till further orders.”

Petition Raises Alarm on Potential Ecological Disaster

The petition highlights serious environmental threats posed by the Rs. 1,000 crore safari project, warning that the scale of proposed construction—ranging from hotels and roads to research labs and commercial establishments—could permanently damage the already degraded Aravali ecosystem. The Aravalis are among India’s oldest mountain ranges and serve as a crucial green buffer zone for the National Capital Region.

Petitioners argued that the use of compensatory afforestation funds for financing such a commercially driven venture violates legal norms and defeats the purpose of ecological restoration. They warned of irreversible impacts on the region’s biodiversity, hydrology, and natural terrain, which is already under severe stress due to mining, deforestation, and urbanisation.

SC Awaits Clear Definition of Aravali Hills Before Proceeding

Amicus Curiae and senior advocate Mr. K. Parameshwar informed the court that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had been directed to formulate a uniform definition of the Aravali hills. This definition will have significant implications for the ecological viability and legal compliance of the proposed safari project.

“It would be prudent to await the definition of Aravali prior to hearing the petition as it would have a strong bearing on the viability of the project and its impact,” Mr. Parameshwar told the bench.

Haryana’s Vision: World’s Biggest Safari Park in the Making

According to earlier statements made by the former Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Lal Khattar, the state intended to create a world-class safari with 10 thematic zones, including one for tigers, lions, leopards, and even an underwater experience. The Phase-I plan, covering 2,500 acres, was slated to begin soon, according to the Forest and Wildlife Minister of Haryana.

The safari park was expected to attract tourism, create employment, and generate state revenue. However, its location within the ecologically sensitive Aravali range has raised red flags among conservationists and environmental experts alike.

Balancing Development with Ecology: A Test for Policy and Planning

The apex court’s intervention underscores the growing importance of environmentally sustainable development and highlights the need for transparent decision-making when dealing with ecologically sensitive zones. While the project reflects Haryana’s developmental aspirations and potential tourism revenue, the challenge lies in ensuring that such initiatives do not come at the cost of environmental degradation.

The court’s directive halts any further action by the Haryana government until a clear legal and ecological roadmap is in place. This case could set a national precedent for how large-scale projects are evaluated in eco-sensitive zones going forward.

Also Read: Who’s Afraid of Sanjiv Chaturvedi? 15 Judges Step Aside from His Cases


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Rail News
Northern Railways Achieves Historic Feat: Simultaneous Unloading of Two Goods Rakes in Jammu & Kashmir
bureaucracy news
Govt Appoints IAS Preeti Maithil as Deputy GM of TRIFED; IRS Officer Mashhood Ur Rehman Farooqui Named Director at NHA
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
29 IAS Officers Transferred in Major AP Bureaucratic Reshuffle; Pattanshetti Ravi Subash Appointed APPSC Secretary
PM Modi Global Fintech Fest
PM Narendra Modi Invites Global Investors to Join India’s Rapid Economic Growth at Global Fintech Fest 2025
PM Modi Global Fintech Fest 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Highlights India’s Digital Inclusion and Ethical AI Leadership at Global Fintech Fest 2025
Yogi Adityanath sports
Jhansi Sports Festival 2025: CM Yogi Applauds Rising Talent, Boosts Sports Ecosystem
CM Dhami 5 Crore Infra
Big Leap for Uttarakhand: CM Dhami Approves Road, SDRF Upgrade, Office in Pithoragarh and Hydropower Projects
Karnataka
Karnataka Appoints Retired IAS G V Krishna Rao as Recovery Commissioner to Seize Illegal Mining Assets Under 2025 Law
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Officer C
"She Believed She Could, So She Did" - The Inspiring Journey of IAS Officer C. Vanmathi
From herding buffaloes and facing early marriage pressure to becoming an IAS officer, C. Vanmathi’s journey...
Jitendra Baghel MPPSC
7 Years, 4 Interviews, Now Dy.SP: How Jitendra Baghel Cracked MPPSC Through Relentless Struggle
Jitendra Baghel’s inspiring journey from a humble farming background to MPPSC Dy.SP showcases relentless...
IDES Saquib Alam
UPSC Strategy & Mindset Tips from IDES Officer Saquib Alam | Video Interview 
Discover how IDES officer Saquib Alam left his corporate job at Mahindra, overcame six UPSC attempts,...
Social Media
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Rail News
Northern Railways Achieves Historic Feat: Simultaneous Unloading of Two Goods Rakes in Jammu & Kashmir
bureaucracy news
Govt Appoints IAS Preeti Maithil as Deputy GM of TRIFED; IRS Officer Mashhood Ur Rehman Farooqui Named Director at NHA
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IDES Saquib Alam
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT