Archive · 3 Jan 2026
Rajasthan Denotifies 732 Hectares of Gharial Sanctuary
The Rajasthan government has decided to remove the protected status from 732 hectares of land in the National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary.
This land is on both sides of the Chambal River.
The new boundary will now start from the Jawahar Sagar Dam and end at the Hanging Bridge, instead of going up to the Kota Barrage.
This change will allow people living in nearby areas to buy, sell, and build on the land.
Some people, like homeowners and traders, are happy because it will help them and bring new opportunities.
But others, like environmentalists, are worried because they think it will hurt the animals and plants that live there.
They plan to go to court to stop this change.
The government says this will make it easier to manage the protected areas, but the environmentalists are not sure.
Rajasthan government denotified 732 hectares of National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary land.
The new boundary starts from Jawahar Sagar Dam to Hanging Bridge, excluding previously restricted areas up to Kota Barrage.
The decision aims to provide relief to over one lakh residents and facilitate industrial development.
Environmentalists and wildlife lovers express concern, planning to approach the court against the boundary alteration.
The sanctuary is home to endangered species like gharial, red-crowned roof turtle, and Ganges river dolphin.
- Who
- Rajasthan government, Homeowners, Traders, Environmentalists, Wildlife Lovers, NGO Jal Biradari
- What
- Denotification of 732 hectares of National Chambal Gharial Sanctuary land
- When
- Notification issued on January 3, 2026 (approval on December 23, 2025)
- Where
- Kota, Rajasthan, India
- Why
- To clearly define protected areas, provide relief to residents, and facilitate industrial development, but also to spark environmental concerns
- Location
- Kota, Rajasthan, India
- Denotified Area
- 732 hectares
- Sanctuary Species
- Gharial, Red-crowned roof turtle, Ganges river dolphin, Slothbears, Leopards, Migratory birds
- Boundary Change
- From Jawahar Sagar Dam to Hanging Bridge (previously up to Kota Barrage)
- Approval Date
- December 23, 2025
- Key Supporters
- Homeowners, Traders, Kota Vyapar Mahasangh
- Key Opponents
- Environmentalists, Wildlife Lovers, NGO Jal Biradari
- Impacted Localities
- Gumanpura, Kishorpura, Shivpura, Sakatpura, Nayagaon