HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
According to TOI, The eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) monitoring committee of the Nahargarh Wildlife Sanctuary has instructed the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) to demolish a property owned by Kanha Hotels and Spa Private Ltd, managed by Taj Amer, for illegally occupying land within the Nahargarh ESZ.
This directive follows the decision of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) standing committee, which refused to grant wildlife clearance to the hotel project during a meeting on February 22, 2024. Although the hotel building was constructed several years ago, it only began operations in 2023.
According to the minutes of the meeting dated June 24, “The Chairman discussed the compliance of the decision of the 78th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife held on 22.02.2024 with the members of the Monitoring Committee. It was unanimously decided that the compliance of the said decision would be carried out by the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA). A decision was made to have the JDA take action to remove/demolish the new construction (hotel) built by Kanha Hotels and Spa Pvt Ltd in the ESZ. A copy of the decision will be sent to JDA, Jaipur for compliance by the NBWL.”
Deputy Conservator of Forest Jagdish Gupta confirmed, “After the standing committee decided not to grant clearance to the project, the ESZ committee decided to ask JDA to raze the building.”
In response, the area director (operations) of Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL), Rajasthan, a Tata Group company, stated, “We have not received any notification regarding the decision yet. Taj Amer has obtained all necessary approvals from relevant government authorities.”
Green activist Rajendra Tiwari, who raised the issue, emphasized that according to the ESZ notification, no new commercial hotels and resorts can be permitted within one kilometre of the boundary of the protected area up to the extent of the ESZ, except for small temporary structures for eco-tourism activities.
source: TOI
