NGT issues notice on Ananta Resort near Sariska Tiger Reserve over env violations
Synopsis
The NGT has admitted a case alleging that Ananta Spa and Resort near Sariska Tiger Reserve was built within one kilometre of the reserve boundary — with over 75 rooms and 20,000 sq m of built-up area — without a single mandatory environmental, wildlife, or groundwater clearance. A joint committee has six weeks to inspect and report.
Key Takeaways
The NGT Central Zone Bench at Bhopal issued notices on 8 July over alleged violations by Ananta Spa and Resort near Sariska Tiger Reserve , Alwar, Rajasthan .
The resort allegedly sits within one kilometre of the reserve boundary and has a built-up area exceeding 20,000 square metres — requiring mandatory Environmental Clearance under the EIA Notification.
Alleged missing approvals include environmental clearance, wildlife clearance from the National Board for Wildlife , and a No Objection Certificate from the Central Ground Water Authority .
Part of the construction is alleged to have been built on a natural drainage channel (Gair Mumkin Naala) .
A Joint Committee of four agencies has been directed to conduct a site inspection and submit a report within six weeks .
The Tribunal has not ruled on the merits; allegations remain subject to adjudication.
The Central Zone Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) at Bhopal has issued notices to the Union of India and other respondents on an application alleging environmental violations in the construction and operation of Ananta Spa and Resort at Ajabgarh, near the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan's Alwar district. The matter was registered as an Original Application on Tuesday, 8 July.
What the Application Alleges
According to the application, the resort has been developed within approximately one kilometre of the Sariska Tiger Reserve boundary without obtaining mandatory environmental approvals. The project reportedly comprises more than 75 rooms, banquet halls, swimming pools and other facilities, with a built-up area allegedly exceeding 20,000 square metres — a threshold that requires prior Environmental Clearance under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification.
The application further alleges that construction commenced and operations are ongoing without obtaining: environmental clearance; consent to establish and consent to operate from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board; wildlife clearance from the National Board for Wildlife; and a No Objection Certificate from the Central Ground Water Authority for groundwater extraction.
Drainage Channel Concern
A separate allegation in the application claims that a portion of the construction has been carried out on land recorded as a natural drainage channel, locally designated as 'Gair Mumkin Naala'. This raises additional concerns over the protection of natural water resources in the ecologically sensitive zone.
NGT's Response and Committee Formation
After hearing the matter, the Tribunal concluded that the application raises a substantial question relating to the environment and admitted it for consideration. Notices have been issued directing respondents to file their replies within the prescribed period.
The Bench has also constituted a Joint Committee comprising representatives of the Rajasthan Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the Alwar District Collector, the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, and the Central Ground Water Board. The Committee has been directed to conduct a site inspection and submit a factual and action-taken report within six weeks. The Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has been designated as the nodal agency for coordination and compliance.
What Happens Next
The Tribunal has clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations, which remain subject to adjudication. The matter will be taken up for further consideration once the Joint Committee submits its report and the respondents file their replies. This comes amid growing scrutiny of infrastructure projects encroaching on India's protected wildlife corridors, with the Sariska Tiger Reserve — home to a recovering tiger population — at the centre of longstanding conservation concerns in Rajasthan.
Point of View
Wildlife, groundwater, or pollution board consent — was reportedly obtained. Sariska has a fraught history with encroachment and was once stripped of its entire tiger population before a costly restocking effort. If the allegations hold up under inspection, this case could set a precedent for how buffer-zone construction is regulated across India's tiger reserves, where development pressure and conservation mandates remain in chronic tension.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the NGT issued a notice over Ananta Spa and Resort near Sariska?
The NGT issued notices after admitting an application alleging that Ananta Spa and Resort at Ajabgarh was constructed and is operating within approximately one kilometre of the Sariska Tiger Reserve boundary without obtaining mandatory environmental, wildlife, and groundwater clearances. The Tribunal found the application raised a substantial question relating to the environment.
What environmental clearances is the resort allegedly missing?
According to the application, the resort allegedly lacks Environmental Clearance under the EIA Notification, consent to establish and operate from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, wildlife clearance from the National Board for Wildlife, and a No Objection Certificate from the Central Ground Water Authority for groundwater extraction.
What is the Joint Committee directed to do?
The NGT has constituted a Joint Committee comprising the Rajasthan Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, the Alwar District Collector, the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, and the Central Ground Water Board. It must conduct a site inspection and submit a factual and action-taken report within six weeks, with the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board acting as nodal agency.
Has the NGT ruled against the resort?
No. The Tribunal has explicitly stated it has not expressed any opinion on the merits of the allegations. The notices are a procedural step; respondents have been asked to file replies, and the matter will be heard further after the Joint Committee's report is received.
Why is proximity to Sariska Tiger Reserve significant?
Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan's Alwar district is a protected area under Indian wildlife law, and construction within or near its boundary requires multiple regulatory clearances — including wildlife clearance from the National Board for Wildlife — precisely to prevent habitat degradation. Sariska has a documented history of encroachment pressures, making any alleged unauthorised construction in its buffer zone a matter of heightened legal and ecological concern.
