NGT records Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary expansion in Agra
The NGT has recorded the expansion of Agra's Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary to 798.1505 hectares following government notifications.
In a significant boost to wildlife conservation in Uttar Pradesh, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has formally taken note of the expansion of the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary in Agra. The sanctuary's total area has now been officially recorded at 798.1505 hectares, following a series of strategic notifications issued by the state government.
The decision came during a hearing led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member Dr Afroz Ahmad. The tribunal was presiding over a legal application that sought the time-bound implementation of recommendations made by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) regarding the sanctuary's boundaries.
A Multi-Phase Expansion Process
The expansion was not a single event but a structured process involving three distinct components to ensure the protection of the ecosystem and its avian inhabitants. The total area of 798.1505 hectares was achieved through the following steps:
- Initial Notification: On June 12, 2024, the first phase saw 403.09 hectares in Agra officially notified as part of the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary.
- Forest Block Inclusion: Following this, 380.558 hectares of the Surdas Reserve Forest block were brought under the sanctuary's umbrella. This was facilitated through a notification on December 27, 2024, which underwent subsequent amendments.
- Government Land Integration: The final piece of the puzzle involved the inclusion of 14.5025 hectares of government land, formalized through a notification dated September 10, 2026.
This final step ensured that the sanctuary now encompasses critical buffer zones and forest blocks that were previously outside its official boundaries, providing a more robust habitat for the region's diverse bird species.
Compliance with Supreme Court and CEC Mandates
The expansion follows a legal trajectory that began with a Supreme Court order in September 2022. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had previously recommended that the sanctuary be extended to include the Surdas Reserve Forest and adjacent government lands to better protect the area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
While the CEC had initially suggested considering 15.514 hectares of government land, the final notifications successfully incorporated 14.5025 hectares. The NGT observed that the Uttar Pradesh government had acted in compliance with the statutory procedures required under Sections 18 to 25 of the Act.
Legal Resolution
With the issuance of the final notification on September 10, 2026, the NGT noted that the relief sought by the original applicant had been satisfied. The tribunal, having verified that the three components combined to form the total expanded area, subsequently disposed of the original application.
This expansion marks a vital milestone for Agra's environmental landscape, ensuring that the Soor Sarovar Bird Sanctuary is better equipped to serve as a protected haven for migratory and local bird populations.