Mail News Service
New Delhi /Jamshedpur, Oct 8 : In a major boost to Jharkhand’s conservation efforts, the Supreme Court has permitted the state government to officially notify 31,468.25 hectares of the ecologically rich Saranda forest as a wildlife sanctuary.
The bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran passed the order, while making it clear that existing mining leases and operations by SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) will remain outside the sanctuary’s influence zone.
The state government has been directed to file a compliance affidavit within a week.
During the hearing, the apex court examined the expansion of the sanctuary area compared to the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) previous order.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Jharkhand, cited a report and map submitted by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
WII had earlier proposed an eight-year study with an estimated cost of Rs 3 crore before finalising the sanctuary demarcation.
Initially, WII suggested notifying 5,519.41 hectares, but the state government eventually agreed to the larger 31,468.25-hectare area following NGT directions.
According to the government’s affidavit, the designated area comprises 126 forest compartments, none of which currently host active mining.
Amicus Curiae opposed any further re-demarcation, pointing out that the state had already accepted the proposed area in its filings.
SAIL, meanwhile, urged the court to ensure its mining activities are not disrupted, given the legal restriction on mining within a one-kilometre radius of sanctuary boundaries.
Recognising SAIL’s critical role in national steel production, the court explicitly stated that the sanctuary notification will not hamper valid mining leases or SAIL’s operations.
It also exempted the state Chief Secretary from personal court appearances, although he was present during the proceedings.
The decision marks a significant step toward balancing ecological preservation and industrial interests in one of India’s most biodiverse forest belts.
