387 of 501 Resorts and Farmhouses Around Gir Found Illegal, HC Questions Action on Lion Corridors

Affidavits submitted by the collectors of Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Amreli before the Gujarat High Court have revealed widespread alleged illegal construction in and around the eco-sensitive zone of the Gir sanctuary, with 387 of 501 inspected tourism units found to be operating without the required permissions.

The findings emerged in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning alleged unauthorised construction around Gir. According to the reports, only 113 farmhouses, resorts and hotels were found to be operating legally.

The High Court has questioned the limited enforcement measures taken so far and directed the authorities to submit a fresh status report on July 22.

Court Questions Enforcement

During the hearing, the court questioned how commercial activities allegedly being carried out without mandatory forest clearances could be treated as minor violations.

According to the affidavits, notices have been issued to 191 units, proceedings initiated against 28 properties and only 10 establishments sealed.

District-Wise Findings

In Junagadh, officials inspected 164 tourism units. Only 23 were found to be compliant, while 141 were allegedly operating illegally. Of these, 43 were categorised as having minor violations and 98 faced allegations of serious irregularities, including illegal construction and misuse of land.

In Amreli, 29 units were inspected. Three were found to be legal and one had been closed. The remaining 25 were allegedly violating various regulations, including 15 with minor violations and 10 with serious breaches.

In Gir Somnath, authorities inspected 308 hospitality establishments. Eighty-seven were found to be operating legally, while 221 allegedly lacked the required permissions from the Forest Department and other authorities. The collector's report classified 193 units as having minor irregularities, while the remaining establishments faced more serious allegations.

The investigation also found that 127 residential properties were allegedly being used for commercial lodging and boarding.

Why the Alleged Encroachments Matter

The PIL has renewed concerns over development in the Gir landscape, where an increasing number of Asiatic lions now range beyond the protected forest. Conservationists have long argued that preserving natural movement corridors is becoming increasingly important as more lions disperse beyond the protected forest, with habitat fragmentation raising the likelihood of human-lion interactions.

The issue has also gained prominence amid a series of recent human-lion encounters in Gujarat. Just last Friday, a 12-year-old boy was killed after being attacked by a lion while climbing the steps of Girnar mountain in Junagadh.

The current case in the High Court has also raised questions about enforcement by the Revenue Department, which is responsible for regulating land-use changes, granting non-agricultural permissions and acting against unauthorised construction.

The proceedings have also seen allegations that some of the establishments are linked to politically influential individuals, although no findings on those claims have been recorded by the court.

The High Court will hear the matter again on July 22, when the state authorities are expected to submit an updated report on compliance and enforcement action.