Commercial activities to resume at Nahargarh Fort as SC stays NGT ban

Jaipur: The commercial activities including a restaurant and the light and sound show will resume at Nahargarh Fort and nearby wildlife area as the Supreme Court has stayed a ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). NGT in October last year had banned commercial activities including two restaurants, a hotel and a bar at Nahargarh Fort in Jaipur. The ban order was issued on a PIL filed by wildlife lover Rajendra Tiwari. The ban came into effect on December 1.

According to Nahargarh wildlife sanctuary officials, the tourists would be able to enjoy food and the light and sound show in the area. There had been a massive drop in the tourist footfall at the fort after the ban. The light and sound show which is very popular among tourists was organized at the Amber Fort.

Advocate Manish Singhvi argued before the Supreme Court on behalf of the government.

As per the NGT orders, the Rajasthan government was told to close down all commercial and non-forest activities in the Nahargarh Wildlife Area. NGT rebuked the archaeological department and RTDC saying that they were not entitled to operate any commercial activities in a conservation area. The order asked the archaeological department and wildlife department to ensure discontinuance of all commercial activities with immediate effect and have the fort premises vacated immediately. The NGT also instructed the forest department to step in and develop eco-tourism.

Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation (RTDC) operated a restaurant and beer bar in the fort. A private firm also ran a restaurant on a lease granted by the archaeological department. The light and sound show runs for a duration of 45 minutes at Amer Fort. The department says that the sound system is the low decibel (98 decibels) and doesn’t have any adverse effect on the wildlife in the area.