Why in news
Aravali Safari Park, 3,858-hectare safari park project in Haryana, spread across Gurugram and Nuh, aimed to be the world’s largest.
The project has faced significant opposition since it was proposed, despite being a poll promise by the ruling BJP.
What is the project?
The park will include animal cages, guest houses, hotels, restaurants, auditoriums, an animal hospital, children’s parks, botanical gardens, aquariums, cable cars, a tunnel walk, open-air theatre, and eateries.
2,574 hectares in Gurugram, 1,284 hectares in Nuh, across 18 villages.
Management: Transferred to the forest department with an expert committee overseeing the project.
Why is there opposition?
The Aravali hills are ecologically significant, preventing desertification, recharging groundwater, and providing habitat for wildlife and plants.
Opponents, including retired forest officers, argue the project focuses on increasing tourism, not conservation, and could harm the Aravali ecosystem.
The increase in footfall, traffic, and construction could disturb the vital aquifers in the region.
The area is legally protected under various laws like the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, which restrict land use for non-agricultural purposes.
What are the laws protecting Aravali?
The Aravalis in Haryana are protected under multiple laws:
Punjab Land Preservation Act (PLPA), 1900, restricts land-breaking and deforestation.
24,000 hectares are notified as Protected Forest under the Indian Forest Act.
The T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad judgment extends legal protection to forests.
Aravalis are designated as a ‘Natural Conservation Zone’ under the Regional Plan-2021.
Suggested Alternatives: Forest experts suggest converting the area into a national park or sanctuary rather than a safari park.
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