Sun Jun 29 04:55:30 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten news article:
**Summary:**
The Congress party is criticizing the central and Rajasthan governments over a reported plan to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve. They allege this plan would allow the reactivation of over 50 mining operations, which were previously shut down by the Supreme Court. The Congress argues this move will be ecologically damaging, fragment the critical tiger habitat, and benefit mine owners at the expense of conservation efforts. They also highlight that both the Union and Rajasthan Environment Ministers are from Alwar, suggesting a conflict of interest, and imply the Supreme Court may need to intervene.
**News Article:**
**Controversy Erupts Over Sariska Tiger Reserve Boundary Changes: Congress Accuses Governments of Aiding Mining Interests**
**New Delhi, June 29, 2025** – A political storm is brewing over the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan as the Congress party launched a scathing attack on both the Central and Rajasthan state governments, alleging a plan to redraw the reserve’s boundaries is underway to facilitate the reopening of over 50 mining operations.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh took to social media platform X to express his party’s concerns, citing media reports indicating the proposed boundary changes are nearing approval. These mining operations had previously been shut down by order of the Supreme Court.
“This move will be ecologically devastating,” Ramesh stated, highlighting the successful revival of the tiger population in Sariska after it had dwindled to zero in 2004 due to rampant poaching. He further emphasized the fragmentation of the critical tiger habitat and the potential for long-term ecological damage.
The Congress leader also pointed to a potential conflict of interest, noting that the Union Environment Minister and the Environment Minister of Rajasthan both hail from Alwar, the district where the reserve is located. “Surely this double engine cannot be supporting such corridor fragmentation to benefit the mine owners,” Ramesh questioned.
The party’s statement suggests that the central and state governments are prioritizing economic gains from mining over conservation efforts, potentially undermining the Supreme Court’s previous directives. Mr. Ramesh warned that ultimately, the Supreme Court may need to step in to prevent the boundary changes from occurring.
As of press time, neither the Central nor the Rajasthan government has issued an official response to the Congress party’s allegations. This developing story will likely continue to raise concerns from environmental activists and spark further political debate.
First Piper 