In a win for Jharkhand’s wildlife, the Supreme Court allowed the state to declare 31,468 hectares of the Saranda forest a protected wildlife sanctuary. The decision came on Wednesday, giving official support to a move that has been on the table for years.
The Court’s bench, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, set conditions for the sanctuary. Mining operations by Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL) and other licensed mines will not be affected by the notification. Normally, mining is barred inside a sanctuary and also in a one‑kilometre zone around it, but the new ruling keeps those mines running.
The Court asked the Jharkhand government to submit a compliance affidavit within a week. It told the state’s chief secretary that he need not appear in person this time. Earlier, the Court had warned the chief secretary about contempt of its order on 29 April, threatening legal action if the state failed to comply.
The bench criticised the state for delays and contradictory promises about the sanctuary. It cited the National Green Tribunal’s July 2022 directive, which pushed the state to declare the Saranda forest a protected area. The Court called the government’s shifting stance “totally unfair.”
Saranda forest, also called Sasangda, is one of India’s most pristine sal forests. It is home to rich wildlife and tribal communities. The Geological Survey of India has earmarked some parts of the forest for future mining, but the new sanctuary status will strengthen protection for the area’s biodiversity.
Overall, the Supreme Court’s ruling gives Jharkhand a legal green light to protect a vital ecological zone while allowing certain mining activities to continue.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
