Udaipur, Rajasthan – A major corruption scandal worth nearly ₹300 crore in the Sajjangarh Eco‑Sensitive Zone (ESZ) has come to light, raising serious questions about enforcement of environmental rules and administrative accountability. The controversial case, first reported by Expose Now, has now reached the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which instructed strict action. However, local authorities and forest officials appear to be ignoring the directives.
📌 PMO Directive Ignored — Investigation Findings
The scam revolves around alleged collusion between the Udaipur Development Authority (UDA) and officials from the Forest Department, resulting in the violation of ESZ norms and illegal construction within the protected buffer area around the world‑famous Sajjangarh Biological Park. Despite clear instructions from the PMO to take action, the report suggests that instead of penalizing violators, officials are attempting to cover up evidence and protect the unlawful construction.
🔍 Illegal Land Conversion and Manipulated Reports
According to the exposé, the legal restrictions that prohibit commercial and structural developments within 1 kilometer of the eco‑sensitive boundary were breached. Authorities allegedly altered ground‑level distance measurements in official documents to show land as being outside the protected zone, which enabled them to grant approvals for construction that should never have been permitted under ESZ rules.
🏗️ Extensive Violations of Construction Norms
The investigation also found multiple violations of construction permissions:
- Only approval for a 2‑storey building was issued, but a 4‑storey structure now stands on the site.
- The permitted construction area (96,000 square feet) has been vastly exceeded, with actual development covering around 400,000 square feet.
- Required green cover and environmental safeguards have not been maintained, indicating deliberate breach of ESZ regulations.
⚖️ Supreme Court Orders Also Overlooked
The report highlights that not only state environmental laws but also Supreme Court directives meant to protect eco‑sensitive zones have been circumvented. Instead of corrective action, the case raises concerns about administrative complicity and lack of enforcement even after intervention from the highest level of government.
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📉 Public and Environmental Impact
The alleged scam has significant implications for ecological balance, wildlife protection, and environmental governance in one of Rajasthan’s most sensitive forest sites. Local residents and environmental activists are watching closely to see if the government will follow through on the PMO’s orders or allow bureaucratic inaction to prevail.
