Green Tribunal Seeks Response on Illegal Vehicle Entry in Ranthambore

The National Green Tribunal has requested a response from Jaipur's regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and others regarding the unauthorized entry of luxury vehicles into Ranthambore National Park. The tribunal took suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging influential people entered the critical tiger habitat against park rules.

The National Green Tribunal has called for a response from the Jaipur regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and other parties concerning the alleged illegal entry of luxury vehicles into Ranthambore National Park, located in Sawai Madhopur district, Rajasthan.

The tribunal acted on its own initiative based on media reports claiming that influential individuals entered the park in private sports utility vehicles (SUVs), breaching the rules that prohibit such entry into the critical tiger habitat.

In a recent order, NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member Afroz Ahmad noted that the media report raised significant concerns about environmental compliance. The tribunal has requested several authorities, including the MoEF&CC's regional office, the Sawai Madhopur district magistrate, the state's principal chief conservator of forests, and the chief wildlife warden, to submit their responses. Responses are to be filed by affidavit to the central zonal bench in Bhopal at least a week before the next hearing on October 16.

(With inputs from agencies.)