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The Ajmer Development Authority (ADA) commenced tearing down the Seven Wonders Park replicas on September 12, 2025, in compliance with a Supreme Court directive issued six months earlier, on March 18, 2025.
The court mandated the removal of the park and a nearby food court at Luv-Kush Garden in Vaishali Nagar, declaring them encroachments on the ecologically sensitive wetlands and green belt surrounding Anasagar Lake. The district administration, in an affidavit, committed to completing the demolition by September 17, 2025, a deadline that spurred the recent action.
The Seven Wonders Park, inaugurated in 2022 by then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot under the Ajmer Smart City Project, cost approximately Rs 12 crore. It featured miniature replicas of global landmarks, including the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, Egyptian Pyramids, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Roman Colosseum, Statue of Liberty, and Christ the Redeemer. Initially, only one statue was relocated due to limited bidder response to ADA’s demolition tenders, but full-scale demolition has now begun.
The legal battle over the park began in March 2023, when former BJP councillor Ashok Malik filed a writ petition with the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Malik’s petition argued that the park’s construction violated Ajmer’s master plan and damaged the wetlands around Anasagar Lake.
On August 11, 2023, the NGT ordered the demolition of the park, along with Patel Stadium, Gandhi Smriti Udyan, and the food court, citing their adverse impact on the wetland’s ecological balance. The ADA appealed this decision in January 2024, but the Supreme Court upheld the NGT’s ruling. During hearings, the court questioned the authorities’ failure to comply with the NGT’s orders and, on February 25, 2025, directed the Chief Secretary to appear via video conferencing. An affidavit submitted thereafter requested six months to execute the demolition.
In its March 2025 hearing, the Supreme Court criticized the authorities, stating, “Your functioning does not indicate a desire to make Ajmer smart. How can a city be called smart if it encroaches on water bodies and wetlands?”
The court emphasized the importance of protecting natural resources for sustainable urban development, reinforcing its December 2024 refusal to stay the demolition order. The food court at Luv-Kush Garden faces a separate demolition deadline of April 7, 2025.
The Smart City Project, under which the park was built, was managed by successive IAS officers serving as CEO, District Collector, Municipal Commissioner, and ADA Commissioner. However, accountability for approving the construction on protected wetlands remains unclear. As demolition began, the administration restricted media access to the site and deployed a heavy police presence to maintain order, reflecting the sensitivity of the operation.
The controversy also took a personal toll on petitioner Ashok Malik, who, along with his son, was arrested on November 6, 2023, during the legal proceedings. Both were later released on bail. The demolition marks a significant step toward restoring Anasagar Lake’s wetlands, aligning with the Supreme Court’s vision of prioritizing environmental conservation over urban projects that disregard ecological balance. As Ajmer grapples with the loss of a popular tourist attraction, the case underscores the challenges of balancing development with environmental stewardship in India’s smart city initiatives.
