The Supreme Court directed the Jharkhand government to declare the Saranda forest as a wildlife sanctuary and conservation reserve, covering 31,468.25 hectares.

• The Court ruled that six compartments could be exempted from this notification under the Management Plan for Sustainable Mining (MPSM)

Key Details of the Supreme Court’s Ruling

• Deadline for Notification: The state has been given a three-month deadline to complete the notification of 126 compartments of the forest as a wildlife sanctuary, as per the 1968 notification.
• Balance Between Environment and Development: The Court emphasized the necessity to balance environmental protection with development needs, citing Articles 48A and 51A(g) of the Constitution and Section 26A of the Wildlife Protection Act as foundational to the decision.
• Protection of Tribal Rights: The Court clarified that tribal and community rights within the sanctuary area would remain unaffected. 
  • It instructed the Jharkhand government to publicize that the Forest Rights Act would continue to protect the individual and community rights of tribals and forest dwellers.
• Mining Restrictions: The Supreme Court reiterated its previous Goa Foundation vs Union of India (2023) ruling, which prohibits mining within one km of any National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary. 
  • This restriction will also apply to Saranda, ensuring that mining activities do not affect the newly declared sanctuary area.

Legal and Environmental Frameworks 

• National Wildlife Action Plan 2017-31:
  • The Court referenced the National Wildlife Action Plan, which stresses the importance of enhancing the protected area network and the conservation of threatened species through in situ conservation methods.
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972:
  • The Court’s ruling also draws from the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which empowers the declaration of sanctuaries to preserve biodiversity and regulate human activities such as mining in sensitive areas.

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About Saranda Forest

• Location: Saranda Forest is located near Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, India, and is the largest Sal forest in Asia, covering around 900 sq. km.
• Name Meaning: The name “Saranda” translates to “land of seven hundred hills“.
• Historical Significance: The forest was historically a private hunting ground for the royal family of Seraikela.
• Ecological Importance:
• • Flora: The forest is dominated by the Sal tree (Shorea robusta), one of the most pristine and continuous Sal forests in the world.
    • Other prominent species include Mahua, Kusum, and various deciduous plants.
  • Fauna: It is home to elephants, four-horned antelope, gliding lizards (Draco species) and sloth bear.
    • The elephant corridors connecting Saranda with Odisha and Chhattisgarh are critical for maintaining the region’s wildlife population.
• Human Population: Saranda is inhabited by tribal communities such as Ho, Munda, Oraon, and other Adivasi groups.
• Economic Significance: Saranda contains a large share of Jharkhand’s iron ore reserves—about 26%—making it crucial for the state’s steel industry.

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