Union Ministry’s forest panel okays diversion of protected land for renovating Raj temple

“It would be better if that area was diverted and some other area was given to the Forest Department, where a better ecosystem could be developed adjoining the existing forest patch. The present area already has many structures that cannot be revived back to the forest ecosystem,” stated the proposal by the Rajasthan Government.

However, the state government had submitted the proposal to the Union Ministry under the ‘Violation’ category because the PWD had constructed tin sheds and lavatories on the forest land without taking permission under the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam.

The state has also informed the Centre that the rest house for pilgrims and other buildings in the adjoining areas of the said temple, were built in the past.

According to the Rajasthan Government’s proposal, “During the annual fair, lakhs of devotees gather at the temple premises; and additional land is necessary to ensure proper crowd management and provide essential public amenities such as development and beautification of the temple, street lighting, public toilets, parking space, sitting areas, havan vedikas, drinking water facilities, sufficient widening of approach areas and adequate space for shops and public movement.”

“Diversion of 11 acres of forest land is required as many old structures are already present, and the area cannot have its true ecological value restored. It would be better that some non-forest land is allocated to the Forest Department adjacent to the existing forest area so that a better contiguous forest area could be developed,” it added.

While granting in-principle approval, the advisory committee also directed the ministry’s regional office in Gandhinagar to initiate action against violators and levy penalty on the PWD.

“The penalty for violation shall be equal to net present value (NPV) of forest land per hectare for each year of violation from the date of actual diversion, up to five times the NPV plus 12 per cent simple interest from the date of raising of such demand till the deposit is made. To safeguard the undisturbed area of the forest block and prevent further expansion of the temple associated infrastructure, the state government shall construct a boundary wall all around the temple and develop associated infrastructure,” read the minutes of the meeting of the advisory committee.