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Supreme Court Halts Haryana Jungle Safari Project Pending Aravalli Definition by Expert Panel

EnvironmentPolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
13 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:10,000 acres3,000–3,500 acres2021–222026-02-13100 metres
Bodies:Supreme CourtCentral Empowered Committee (CEC)
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What This Article Covers

1.The Supreme Court refused Haryana's request to proceed with a detailed project report for its 3,000-acre Jungle Safari, citing lack of a clear definition of the Aravalli range.

2.The court has stayed its own previous order accepting a height-based definition (100m+) for the Aravallis and will now rely on an expert panel's holistic report.

3.This judicial stance prioritizes long-term ecological security over short-term economic gains, setting a precedent for infrastructure projects in sensitive zones.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The Supreme Court has blocked Haryana's Jungle Safari project, demanding a scientific definition of the 'Aravalli range' before any development. This case highlights the judiciary's role in enforcing environmental checks against state-led projects and underscores the critical ecological significance of the Aravallis for the NCR region.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Project Area3,000-3,500 acres (scaled down from 10,000 acres)
PetitionersFive retired IFS officers & NGO People for Aravallis
Court Order DateFebruary 12, 2026
Proposed DefinitionLandforms at 100 metres or more above local relief

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Project Area: 3,000-3,500 acres (scaled down from 10,000 acres)
  • ›Petitioners: Five retired IFS officers & NGO People for Aravallis
  • ›Target this Data: Initial project area was 10,000 acres, scaled down to 3,000-3,500 acres.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: The Supreme Court stayed its own November 20 order accepting the 100m+ height-based definition.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The Supreme Court has referred the matter of defining the Aravalli range to which expert committee?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Haryana Jungle Safari project:

1. The project was originally proposed to cover an area of 10,000 acres in the Aravalli foothills.

2. The Supreme Court allowed the submission of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Central Empowered Committee for consideration.

3. The petitioners against the project included retired officers from the Indian Forest Service.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the contested government definition mentioned in the article, what minimum elevation above local relief qualifies a landform as part of the Aravalli range?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary reason cited by the Supreme Court for stalling the Haryana Jungle Safari project?

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