A gazette notification released by the Ministry of Home Affairs on June 18, modified the schedule of protected areas in the border districts of Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Sriganganagar, Barmer, Phalodi, and Jalore.
This amendment also includes Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders within its regulatory framework by clarifying their category.
The updated schedule features various tehsils in districts near the India-Pakistan border in Rajasthan.
The order exempts urban areas of key towns such as Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Barmer, and Sanchore, along with prominent tourist locations in the Jaisalmer region, including Sam, Kuldhara, Lodrava, and Bada Bagh.
“The protected areas identified in the table above shall not be applicable to the following regions: the surrounding areas of cities, towns, and villages along National Highway Nos. 62, 11, and 68; the city limits of Sriganganagar, Suratgarh, Bikaner, Phalodi, Bap, Pokaran, Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Sanchore,” the notification stated.
The villages and tourist attractions, such as Amarsagar, Ludrava, Kuldara, Bada Bagh (Black Bar), Akal, Sam, Unda, and Khuhri in the Jaisalmer district, utilized for tourism activities like desert safaris, camping sites, and desert rallies, extending 500 metres on both sides of the roads leading to these locations and the borders of these villages, have also been exempted.
