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`REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-16012026-269376
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No216]
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 2026/PAUSHA 26, 1947
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, 16 th January, 2026
S.O.238 (E).— WHEREAS a draft notification was published in the Gazette of India, vide
notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
number S.O. 2575 (E), dated the 12th June 2025, inviting objections and suggestions from all persons likely
to be affected thereby within the period of sixty days from the date on which copies of the Gazette
containing the said notification were made available to the public;
AND WHEREAS copies of the Gazette containing the said draft notification were made available
to the public on the 13th June, 2025;
AND WHEREAS objections and suggestions received from persons and stakeholders in respect of
the said draft notification have been considered by the Central Government;
AND WHEREAS, the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in one of the most fragile
ecosystems of the Aravalli range and lies approximately eighty kilometres north of the picturesque Lake
City of Udaipur. Geographically, the sanctuary is located between 73°13′ to 73°48′ East longitude and
24°51′ to 25°25′ North latitude. It spans an area of 610.528 square kilometres, covering parts of
Rajsamand, Pali, and Udaipur districts in the state of Rajasthan;
AND WHEREAS the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary makes an ecotone between hilly
forests of Aravallis and Thar Desert situated in the west. Kumbhalgarh hills acts like a barrier,
checking eastward extension of desert. Famous Kumbhalgarh Fort situated atop of a hill is an
attraction for tourists. The eastern part of the Sanctuary is mostly ranges having an altitude of more
than 3500 feets above sea level, while the western part of the Sanctuary is adjoined to the Marwar
plains;
AND WHEREAS the Sanctuary offers diverse topography, adding more to its significance as
it also forms a dividing line between the two major watersheds of the country. Its eastern part is
considered as source of river Banas, which falls into the Bay of Bengal. The rainwater on the
western slope flow in the form of the small rivers like Sukdi, Mithdi, Sumer and Kot, all these
forming the tributaries of river Luni which ultimately merges into the Arabian Sea;
AND WHEREAS the sanctuary supports rich and unique biodiversity which is home for
species like wild boar (Sus scrofa), grey musk shrew (Sunchus murinus), bat (Cyanopterus sphynx),
flying fox (Pteropus gigenticus), Common leopard (Panthera pardus), striped hyena (Hyaena
hyaena), jungle cat (Felis chaus), five striped palm squirrel (Funambulus pennanti), Indian
pangolin (Manis carassicaudata), Indian fox (Vulpes bengalensis), common mongoose (Herpestes
edwardsi), blue bull (Boselaphus tragocamelus), Indian porcupine (Hystrix indica), chinkara
(Gazella gazella), jackal (Canis aureus), Indian small civet (Vivaricula indica) etc. While important
birds found in the Sanctuary are painted francolin (Francolinus pictus), grey francolin (F.
pondicerianus), common quail (Coturnix coturnix), rain quail (C. coromadelica), rock bush quail
(Perdicula argoundah), yellow-legged button quail (Turnix tanki), barred button quail (T.
suscitator), Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus), ruddy shelduck (Tadorana ferruginea), gadwal (Anas
strepera), common teal (A. crecca), garganey (A. querquedula), etc.;
AND WHEREAS the major flora found in the Sanctuary are khair (Acacia catechu), ronjh (Acaia
leucophloea), desi bawalia (Acacia nilotica), kumta (Acacia senegal), haldu (Adina cordifolia), bili (Aegle
marmelos), ardusa, paba (Ailanthus excelsa), ankol (Alangium salvifolium), black siris (Albizzia leibbeck),
safed siris (Albizzia odoratissima), safed siris (Albizzia procera), sitaphal (Annona sequamosa), dhokda
(Anogeissus pendula), dhavda (Anogeissus latifolia), adrukh, indok (Anogeissus sericea), neem
(Azadirachta indica), hingot (Balanites aegyptica), semal (Bombax ceiba), salar (Boswellia serrata),
khakhro (Butea monosperma), karmela (Cassia fistula), kasid (Cassia siamea), gunda, lisoda (Cordia
mixa), varna (Crataeva religiosa), sissoo (Dalbergia sissoo), timru (Diospyros melanoxylon), tambolia
(Ehretia laevis), amla (Emblica officinalis), dhed khakhro (Erythrina suberosa), umara (Ficus racemosa),
piplo (Ficus religiosa), kankan (Flacourtia montana), dikamari (Gardenia resinifera), khad dhaman
(Grewia hirsuta) etc.;
AND WHEREAS it is necessary to conserve and protect the area, extent and boundary of
Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary which is specified in paragraph 1 the said notification as Eco-sensitive
Zone from ecological, environmental and biodiversity point of view and to prohibit industries or class of
industries and their operations and processes in the said Eco-Sensitive Zone;
NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub section (1) and clauses (v) and
(xiv) of sub-section (2) and sub-section (3) of Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of
1986) (hereafter in this notification referred to as the Envirnoment Act) read with sub-rule (3) of Rule 5 of
the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, the Central Government hereby notifies as to an extent of zero to
one kilometre area around the boundary of Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in the State of Rajasthan as
the Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Eco-sensitive Zone (hereafter in this notification referred to as the
Eco-sensitive Zone) details of which are as under, namely: -
1. Extent and boundaries of Eco-sensitive Zone. – (1) the extent of Eco-Sensitive Zone is zero to
one kilometre around the boundary of Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and the area of Eco-
sensitive Zone 243 square kilometres. The Zero extent of Eco-sensitive Zone in the northern
boundary of Sanctuary is due to common border with the Raoli Todgarh Wildlife Sanctuary. The
extent of Eco-sensitive Zone at different directions are:
North 0 kilometre
North-East 1.00 kilometre
East 1.00 kilometre
South-East 1.00 kilometre
South 1.00 kilometre
South-West 1.00 kilometre
West 1.00 kilometre
North-West 1.00 kilometre
(2) The boundary description of Eco-sensitive Zone is appended as Annexure- I.
(3) The maps of the Eco-Sensitive Zone along with boundary details are appended as Annexure- II A,
Annexure-II B and Annexure- II C.
(4) The geo-coordinates of the boundary of protected area and its Eco-sensitive Zone is appended as
Annexure- III and Annexure- IV respectively.
(5) The list of 94 villages falling within the Eco-sensitive Zone is appended as Annexure- V.
2. Zonal Master Plan for Eco-Sensitive Zone. – (1) The State Government shall, for the purposes of the
Eco-sensitive Zone, prepare a Zonal Master Plan, within a period of two years from the date of publication
of this notification in the Official Gazette, in consultation with local people and adhering to the stipulations
given in this notification for approval of the competent authority in the State.
2. The Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-sensitive Zone shall be prepared by the State Government in
such manner as is specified in this notification and also in consonance with the relevant Central
and State laws and the guidelines issued by the Central Government, if any.
3. The Zonal Master Plan shall be prepared in consultation with the following Departments of the
State Government, for integrating the ecological and environmental considerations into the said
plan:
i. Environment;
ii. Forest and Wildlife;
iii. Urban Development;
iv. Panchayati Raj and Rural Development;
v. Tourism;
vi. Revenue;
vii. Agriculture;
viii. Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board;
ix. Irrigation and Flood Control;
x. Municipality; and
xi. Public Works and Highways.
4. The Zonal Master Plan shall not impose any restriction on the approved existing land use,
infrastructure and activities, unless so specified in this notification and the Zonal Master Plan
shall factor in improvement of all infrastructure and activities to be more efficient and eco-
friendly.
5. The Zonal Master Plan shall provide for restoration of denuded areas, conservation of existing
water bodies, management of catchment areas, watershed management, groundwater
management, soil and moisture conservation, needs of local community and such other aspects
of the ecology and environment that need attention.
6. The Zonal Master Plan shall demarcate all the existing worshipping places, villages and urban
settlements, types and kinds of forests, agricultural areas, fertile lands, green area, such as,
parks, horticultural areas, orchards, lakes and other water bodies with supporting maps giving
details of existing and proposed land use features.
7. The Zonal Master Plan shall regulate development in Eco-sensitive Zone and adhere to prohibited,
regulated activities listed in Table in paragraph 4 and also ensure and promote eco-friendly
development for livelihood security of local communities.
8. The Zonal Master Plan shall be co-terminus with the Regional Development Plan.
9. The Zonal Master Plan so approved shall be the reference document for the Monitoring Committee
for carrying out its functions of monitoring in accordance with the provisions of this
notification.
2. Measures to be taken by the State Government. -The State Government shall take the following
measures for giving effect to the provisions of this notification, namely:-
(1) Land use.- (a) Forests, horticulture areas, agricultural areas, parks and open spaces earmarked for
recreational purposes in the Eco-sensitive Zone shall not be used or converted into areas for major
commercial or residential or industrial activities;
Provided that the conversion of agricultural and other lands, for the purposes other than that
specified at part (a) above, within the Eco-sensitive Zone may be permitted on the
recommendation of the Monitoring Committee, and with the prior approval of the competent
authority under Regional Town Planning Act and other rules and regulations of Central
Government or State Government as applicable and vide provisions of this Notification, to meet
the residential needs of the local residents such as:
i. widening and strengthening of existing roads and construction of new roads;
ii. construction and renovation of infrastructure and civic amenities;
iii. small scale industries not causing pollution;
iv. cottage industries including village industries; convenience stores and local amenities
supporting eco-tourism including home stay; and
v. promoted activities given