Jaipur: The land rush that transformed the Jawai Leopard Conservation Reserve (JLCR) region from a remote rural landscape into one of Rajasthan’s most coveted investment destinations has abruptly lost momentum.Property prices across the famed leopard tourism belt have softened, investor interest has waned and several high-value land transactions have been put on hold after the Rajasthan High Court halted construction activities and restricted further tourism expansion across 18 villages in the Jawai landscape.For years, Jawai’s granite hills and thriving leopard population attracted a steady stream of wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and luxury travellers from across the world. The tourism boom triggered an equally dramatic surge in land values as hoteliers, safari operators and private investors raced to secure land in what many viewed as India’s next premium wilderness destination. However, that optimism has now been replaced by caution.Jaideo Singh Rathore, a hotelier and lawyer, was on the verge of closing a land deal in Jawai when the high court’s order changed the equation. “The land had already been converted for commercial use, but there remains a concern that future court directions could potentially invalidate such conversions where no construction has taken place. Until there is greater clarity on the regulatory framework, investing in the region carries significant risk,” he said.Real-estate brokers and local stakeholders say inquiries have declined sharply since the court’s April 28 order, with many investors unwilling to commit funds amid uncertainty over future development regulations. Vishwaraj Asop, a local stakeholder, said, “Land parcels that were fetching nearly Rs 30 lakh per bigha are now being quoted at around Rs 6-7 lakh per bigha. Even at these levels, buyers are reluctant because construction cannot proceed without court permission. At the same time, many landowners are unwilling to sell at significantly reduced prices. As a result, the market has virtually come to a standstill.”A major concern is the fate of open land already converted for commercial purposes. While no such direction has been issued, investors fear future conservation measures could impact development plans and many buyers to adopt a wait-and-watch approach. A district administration official said, “There are many commercially converted land parcels in the region, but after the court’s directions, no land transactions have taken place and not a single registry has been executed by either investors or locals.”The High Court ordered status quo on commercial tourism establishments and restrained any activity that could affect leopard movement, habitats, hills, foothills and wildlife corridors. Fresh tourism licences for hotels, resorts and guest houses have also been barred.The directions cover the wider leopard landscape, including 18 villages and a network of caves, hills and wildlife corridors. Conservationists have welcomed the order as a necessary check on unregulated development. “Tourism infrastructure was expanding rapidly, with some properties coming up dangerously close to leopard habitats and caves. Such development was increasingly disturbing the natural landscape. A regulatory intervention was necessary,” said a conservationist.
