Alwar, June 9 -- Wildlife experts and the opposition Congress have raised questions about the composition of Supreme Court-mandated committee for demarcation of a critical tiger habitat (CTH) inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve flagging a lack of experience in tiger reserve management among the committee members. The committee, which was formed by the state government and submitted a draft CTH to the government on April 30, recommended incorporation of regions with high tiger movement into the CTH, and excluded peripheral areas with lower wildlife activity, STR field director Sangram Singh Katiyar said. The draft has been criticised by both the wildlife experts and political leaders. Criticising the committee's constitution, former STR field director RS Shekhawat said: "Unfortunately, the committee constituted by the Rajasthan government does not have the required expertise or experience in tiger reserve management to deliver justice to tiger conservation." The committee should have included at least three officers with a minimum of five years' experience in any tiger reserve, senior scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India, a representative from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), and should have been led by an officer of additional principal chief conservator of Forests (APCCF) rank or above, Shekhawat said. Earlier on Saturday evening, leader of opposition in the state assembly Tikaram Jully said the draft selectively excluded areas owned by miners while including farmers' fields within the CTH boundaries. "This is unacceptable to us. We will not remain silent if this is an attempt to displace innocent farmers while sparing influential lobbies," he said, threatening to launch statewide protests. The Supreme Court earlier ordered the formation of a high-level committee to demarcate a CTH within STR to enhance tiger conservation in accordance with Section 38V of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The top order came in response to long-pending concerns raised by wildlife activists and environmental groups about the absence of a formally notified CTH in Sariska - a requirement for scientific tiger reserve management. The court directed a time-bound report to be submitted, ensuring ecological parameters and biological needs of tigers are prioritised in identifying the core critical area. Former principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) of Rajasthan, RN Mehrotra, alleged that the draft is part of a larger conspiracy to reopen defunct marble mines in the region. "This appears to be a coordinated effort involving miners, the ministry, the central empowered committee, and even the NTCA," he said. He demanded a full investigation by independent officials. Responding to these allegations, Katiyar said: "The CTH boundaries have been defined based on scientific and logical methodologies and after examining movement of tigers. Further, this is not the final draft. The state government will share it with State Wildlife Board and National Wildlife Board and lastly with NTCA. Loopholes found by these bodies will be incorporated."...