The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Uttarakhand government to demolish all unauthorised structures inside the Jim Corbett Tiger Reserve within three months, marking one of the strongest judicial interventions in the state’s conservation history.
Our correspondent reports that a bench led by Justice B. R. Gavai instructed the Chief Wildlife Warden to work with the Central Empowered Committee to implement a comprehensive ecological restoration plan. The court noted that large-scale illegal construction and tree-felling had caused extensive environmental damage in the reserve.
The bench made it clear that tourism in Corbett must strictly follow eco-tourism principles. The judges said that a detailed tiger-conservation plan must be prepared within three months. They also raised concerns about increased safari activity, vehicle pressure and unregulated tourism in core and buffer zones.
In a strong observation, the court criticised the involvement of former Uttarakhand Forest Minister Harak Singh Rawat and former Divisional Forest Officer Kishan Chand, stating that their actions contributed to the destruction inside the reserve. The court said accountability must be fixed for the violations.
The Supreme Court issued a series of directives, including:
Demolition of all unauthorised constructions inside the reserve.
Strict implementation of NTCA’s 2019 guidelines for safari operations.
Establishment of rescue centres near safari zones.
Regulation of vehicle movement inside core areas.
Prohibition of outsourcing key wildlife-management roles.
Our correspondent adds that the Chief Wildlife Warden has been instructed to submit weekly progress reports. Officials said they are compiling a complete inventory of illegal constructions and preparing a cost estimate for restoration work. They added that a restructuring of tourism policies may be required to shift towards low-impact eco-tourism.
Environmental groups welcomed the ruling, calling it a crucial step in protecting one of India’s most important tiger landscapes. Conservationists noted that the next three months will determine the state’s seriousness in enforcing the court’s directives.
Authorities said demolition work would be carried out in phases to avoid disruption to wildlife movement and to ensure safety within the reserve’s sensitive zones.
Dheeraj reports on governance, public services, jobs, and regional developments across Uttarakhand. He specialises in recruitment news, public-sector updates, and civic issues that impact everyday citizens. His reporting brings accuracy, context, and a grassroots perspective to local journalism.
