Why in news?

The Supreme Court bench, led by the Chief Justice of India, has directed the Jharkhand government to formally notify a new wildlife sanctuary in Saranda, one of India’s richest Sal Forest regions.

The move highlights Saranda’s ecological importance and its history of illegal mining, drawing national attention to the need for stronger biodiversity protection in this forested area spanning southwest Jharkhand and Odisha.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Background of the Case
• Saranda’s Ecological Significance and the Impact of Mining
• Jharkhand’s Position Before the Supreme Court
• Mining Significance of the Region
• The Balancing Act

Background of the Case

• The Supreme Court’s direction to the Jharkhand government stems from a plea seeking compliance with a July 2022 order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had asked the state to consider declaring Saranda Forest as a wildlife sanctuary.
• The plea before the NGT called for the notification of an eco-sensitive zone in the Saranda/Sasangada region of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand.
• The 1968 “Game Sanctuary” Argument
  • The petitioner claimed Saranda had been declared a “game sanctuary” in 1968 under undivided Bihar.
  • Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, such earlier declarations automatically become “deemed sanctuaries.”
  • However, the NGT found no official records confirming this status but recognised Saranda as one of India’s finest Sal forests and directed the Jharkhand government to re-examine its sanctuary potential.
• Supreme Court Steps In
  • After Jharkhand failed to act on the NGT’s order, the case reached the Supreme Court.
  • A CJI-led Bench in November 2024 directed the state to expedite the process and, between November 2024 and September 2025, criticised delays and non-compliance.
  • The Court even warned of contempt when officials tried to alter proposed boundaries to accommodate mining areas.

Saranda’s Ecological Significance and the Impact of Mining

• Located in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, the Saranda Forest Division spans 856 sq km, of which 816 sq km is reserved forest and the rest protected forest.
• The name Saranda means “seven hundred hills”, reflecting the region’s undulating terrain and dense Sal forests.
• The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has recognised Saranda as a biological and ecological hotspot, historically known for its rich biodiversity.
• Biodiversity and Wildlife Corridors
  • Saranda supports diverse wildlife, including elephants, four-horned antelope, and sloth bears.
  • It also contains three elephant corridors, ensuring ecological connectivity with neighbouring forests across Jharkhand and Odisha.
  • Although tigers have been sighted in the past, they have not established a resident population in recent years due to habitat fragmentation and human pressure.
• Mining and Habitat Degradation
  • The forest has suffered from intensive and illegal mining, particularly of iron ore and manganese, leading to loss of wildlife density and habitat fragmentation.
  • The Indian Council of Forest Research and Education (ICFRE), in its Carrying Capacity Study of the Saranda–Chaibasa region, confirmed that mining had severely affected forest ecology and wildlife health.
• Findings from Ecological Studies
  • The WII’s 2016 assessment revealed a decline in butterfly, mammal, and bird populations, showing a negative correlation between proximity to mines and species richness.
  • It recommended urgent protection measures, including the creation of a wildlife sanctuary, to curb further ecological degradation.
• Decline in Elephant Population
  • Saranda once hosted a thriving elephant population, but continued habitat loss has forced many herds to migrate to Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
  • According to the latest 2025 Elephant Estimation Report, Jharkhand now has only 217 elephants, distributed between two main clusters — Palamau and Singhbhum (which includes Saranda).
  • Elephant corridors to the south and east of Saranda are now under severe stress, further isolating herds and threatening their long-term survival.

Jharkhand’s Position Before the Supreme Court

• Jharkhand government has told the Supreme Court that while it supports the declaration of Saranda as a wildlife sanctuary, it also wants to ensure that the rights of tribals and forest dwellers are fully protected.
• The state emphasised that Saranda falls under the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution and is home to Ho, Munda, and allied Adivasi communities, including particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs).
• The government argued that declaring the area as a sanctuary could criminalise traditional livelihood activities, thereby violating the Forest Rights Act (FRA) and the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).

Mining Significance of the Region

• The Saranda region is crucial for India’s mining industry, holding about 26% of the country’s total iron ore reserves.
• According to an interlocutory application filed by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), active mines in and around Saranda currently produce 10–15 million tonnes of iron ore annually, roughly 5% of India’s total output.
• History of Illegal Mining in Saranda
  • The controversy over mining in Saranda is long-standing. Under the UPA government, the Justice M. B. Shah Commission of Inquiry investigated illegal mining in Jharkhand, uncovering widespread violations.
  • The Commission reported illegal extraction of iron ore worth ₹14,403 crore and manganese worth ₹138 crore, carried out in violation of mining and environmental laws.
• Efforts Toward Sustainable Mining
  • Following the Shah Commission’s recommendations, the Union Environment Ministry prepared a Sustainable Mining Plan for the Saranda region.
  • The plan designated “go” and “no-go” zones for iron ore mining, with an annual production cap of 64 million tonnes, adjustable based on environmental sustainability.
  • This framework was meant to balance economic interests with ecological preservation, but Saranda continues to face challenges from mining pressure and habitat degradation.

The Balancing Act

• The Supreme Court’s ongoing oversight now places Saranda at the intersection of conservation and development.
• While Jharkhand stresses tribal rights and economic dependence on mining, the court’s focus remains on biodiversity protection, ensuring that the sanctuary declaration proceeds without undermining constitutional and livelihood rights of local communities.