What is the Aravali safari park project?

• The Haryana government’s ambitious 3,858 hectare Aravali safari park project, envisioned as the world’s largest, has faced opposition since its initial proposal.

• The project includes animal cages, guest houses, hotels, restaurants, auditoriums, an animal hospital, children’s parks, botanical gardens, aquariums, cable cars, a tunnel walk with exhibits, an open-air theatre, and eateries.

• The project has been transferred to the forest department and an expert committee has been set up to oversee it.

• The project is part of the Aravali, the oldest fold mountain range in the world, which is ecologically significant and serves as an aquifer.

• A group of 37 retired Indian Forest Service officers have written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, arguing that the project’s aim is to increase tourist footfall and not conserve the mountain range.

• The project falls under the category of “forest”, which is protected under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

• The majority of the approximately 80,000 hectare Aravali hill area in Haryana is protected under various laws and orders of the Supreme Court and NGT.

• Forest analyst Chetan Agarwal suggests that instead of a safari park, the government should declare a national park or sanctuary in the Aravalis.