Jaipur: The Central Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal has issued notices to the Union govt and others over alleged environmental violations by a private resort near the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar district and formed a four-member committee to inspect the site.The bench of Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Sudhir Kumar Chaturvedi, hearing an application filed by Hemraj Meena, directed the respondents to file replies within six weeks.The plea alleges that Ananta Spa and Resort at Ajabgarh was developed on multiple land parcels in Village Gwada Kundal, Tehsil Pratapgarh, without mandatory environmental clearances and permissions. The applicant claimed the resort, located within one kilometre of the Sariska Tiger Reserve boundary, has more than 75 rooms, banquet halls, swimming pools and other facilities, with a built-up area exceeding 20,000 square metres.According to the application, the project required prior environmental clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, but construction was carried out without approval. It also alleged that the resort did not obtain Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, wildlife clearance from the National Board for Wildlife, or a no-objection certificate from the Central Ground Water Authority for groundwater extraction.The plea further alleged that part of the construction was raised on land recorded as “Gair Mumkin Naala”, arguing that natural water bodies cannot be diverted for commercial use.A company representative TOI spoke with Monday said an official statement will be issued after going through the order.The tribunal also referred to a July 12, 2024, order issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (Forests), which directed strict compliance with wildlife and forest clearance norms for commercial establishments in the buffer and eco-sensitive zones of protected areas. The order also prohibited land conversion for commercial purposes without comments from the forest department.The joint committee will include representatives of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Rajasthan, the Alwar district collector, the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, and the Central Ground Water Board. It has been directed to inspect the site and submit a factual and action-taken report within six weeks. The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board will act as the nodal agency.The matter will be heard next on Sept 7, 2026.
