The Central Pollution Control Board has relaxed pollution compliance rules for small hotels located near Sariska Tiger Reserve. According to the reported change, hotels with up to 20 rooms have been shifted into the white category, a classification that exempts them from needing a Consent to Operate.
The decision changes how smaller hospitality units around the protected area are treated under pollution control norms. In practical terms, it reduces regulatory requirements for eligible hotels, a step that could ease operations for smaller businesses serving visitors in the Sariska region.
However, the move has also prompted concern from activists. Critics appear worried that easing oversight near a sensitive wildlife landscape could weaken environmental safeguards, especially in an area where conservation and tourism often have to be carefully balanced.
The development has added to the wider debate over how authorities should regulate tourism-related infrastructure near ecologically important zones. Supporters may see the change as simplification for low-impact units, while opponents are likely to focus on the potential risks of lighter monitoring around Sariska Tiger Reserve.
