The Rajasthan High Court has imposed an interim one-kilometre construction-control and ecological scrutiny zone around identified critical leopard habitats in the Jawai region of Pali district, seeking to protect the area’s caves, dens, breeding sites and wildlife corridors from unchecked development.
A Division Bench of Dr Justice Pushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rekha Borana issued the directions while disposing of a public interest litigation raising concerns over unregulated construction, commercial tourism and other activities allegedly disturbing the Jawai leopard landscape.
The Court made it clear that the one-kilometre distance is not a permanent no-construction boundary. Instead, it wilwildlife
l operate as an interim, evidence-based regulatory threshold until the State completes geo-referenced mapping and scientific ecological and carrying-capacity assessments and frames a comprehensive policy for the region.
The Bench noted that leopard habitats in Jawai extend beyond the boundaries of the notified conservation reserves and include revenue, community and private lands. It said unrestricted construction in the absence of a scientific assessment could cause irreversible damage to leopard caves, breeding and resting sites, water sources and movement corridors.
Within the one-kilometre habitat control zone, proposals involving activities such as blasting, hill cutting, obstruction of wildlife corridors, high-intensity illumination, amplified outdoor sound and untreated waste discharge will face stringent restrictions.
The Court also directed strict enforcement of the Rajasthan government’s 2015 order, which prohibits new commercial and industrial activities, including hotels, resorts and mining, within one kilometre of the notified boundaries of the Jawai Leopard Conservation Reserves. Land conversion in the zone has also been barred.
At the same time, the Court protected the interests of local communities. Bona fide residential construction in existing village abadi areas, repairs to lawful homes, schools, anganwadis, drinking-water facilities, traditional agriculture and grazing will not automatically be prohibited, subject to statutory permissions and wildlife-friendly conditions.
The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pali, has been directed to prepare a provisional geo-referenced map within eight weeks identifying leopard caves, dens, breeding sites, resting areas, corridors, wetlands and water sources.
The Court’s directions will remain in force until Rajasthan formulates a comprehensive policy for the fragile Jawai landscape.
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