OM PRAKASH CHOUDHARY Vs. SATATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are aggrieved by the construction of Salim All Nature Interpretation Center at Keoladeo National Park, Bharatpur. The petitioners seek a direction for demolition of the construction and for this purpose, have prayed for the following reliefs :

(2.) History of the park and facts as gleaned from the pleadings and the material placed on record are as follows : Keoladeo National Park is a world famous bird sanctuary. It is a heronry where the migratory birds assemble from the various parts of the world. Siberian cranes covering thousands of miles fly to the Keoladeo National Park for spending the winter. In fact, Keoladeo National Park is the only wintering site in the country for the Siberian Crane. Assemblage of different species of birds In the park during the monsoon and winter months presents a spectacular sight. The park has the distinction of attracting Ashy Crowned Sparrow Lark, Ashy Prinia, Baya Weaver, Barheaded Goose, Blackbellied tern, Blackheaded Ibis, Bluethroat, Blackcapped Kingfisher, Black tailed Godwit, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black Rumped flame back, Brainfever Bird, Bronzewinged Ja-cana, Collard Scops Owl, Common Pachard, Common Teal, Cotton Pygmy Goose, Common Tailor bird, Common Wood Shrike, Common Redshank, Common moorhen, Common Kingfisher, Dabchick, Moiselle Crane, Dusky Eagle Owl, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Curlew, Garganey, Grey Fancolin, Great Tit, Greater Coucal, Greater Painted Snipe, Grey Heron, Greylag goose, Indian Courser, Indian Grey Hornbill, Indian Pitta, Knob billd Goose, Lesser Whistling Duck, Little Cormorant, Little Egret, Mallard, Northern Shoveller, Oriental White-eye, Pacific Golden Prover, Painted Stork, Pied Kingfisher, Pheasant-tailed Jacana, Pintail, Purple heron, Purple sunbird, Purple Swamphen, Rederested Pochard, Ruddy Shelduck, Scarlet Minivet, Storkbilled Kingfisher, Small Pratincole, Spotbilled Duck, Sarun Crane, Siberian Crane, Whitebreasted Waterhen Whitebellied Drongo etc. Out of the 28 main groups of the bird about 18 ' groups are visible in the park.

(3.) . The park is rich in vegetation. It is a home for about 379 species of flowering plants. It is a habitat for the worms, insects and mossues. It is also aquatic habitat for the organisms. The water in the park comes from Ajan Bandh which was constructed by Maharaja Surajmal, the ruler of the erstwhile princely State of Bharatpur, at the concourse of rivers Gambhir and Banganga. The construction of the dam was commenced in the year 1726 and was completed sometime in the year 1763. The water from the dam and that released from the clouds in the form of rain-drops spreads over the natural depression inside the park. The availability of the water in the natural depression is also conducive for fish. There are about 43 species of fish. The park also has amphibians; reptiles and mammals, such as turtle; grate; viper; cobra, rustle snake; python, lizard' Porcupine; leaf-nose bat; blue bull; feral cattle, spotted deer; sambhar, wild boar, mongoose, cat; jackal and hyena. Thus the park presents a rich blend of bio-diversity.