The land’s legal history has been fraught with controversy. In 1979, 105 acres in Dol Ka Baadh were officially notified for industrial development. By 1988, the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) had allotted the land to the Diamond and Gem Development Corporation Limited to develop a Gem Industrial Estate.However, the company failed to initiate construction within the stipulated timeframe, leading RIICO to cancel the allotment in 1996. A year later, the company challenged this decision in the Rajasthan High Court and temporarily regained control of the land. But in 2013, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court ruling, restoring ownership to RIICO, a move seen as pivotal in shaping the area’s current legal standing.This is not the first time the forest has faced developmental threats. In 2021, plans by the then-Congress government to build a Fintech Park triggered massive opposition, leading to a citywide “Save Dol Ka Baadh” movement that included citizens, conservationists, and celebrities.Adding a political layer to the controversy is the fact that Dol Ka Baadh lies within the constituency of Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma. Critics point out that several BJP leaders, including current Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari, had previously called for the forest’s preservation when in opposition. Kumari once even proposed a biodiversity park on the same land.Further fueling criticism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently condemned forest destruction in Telangana for an IT Park, raising questions about the inconsistency of forest conservation policies when his name is now associated with a similar project in Rajasthan.
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