The Union Environment Ministry has deferred Rajasthan's proposal to relocate villagers from Bhairupura and Mundarahadi villages near the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve to a protected forest area at Kumhariya. The ministry requires recommendations from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and a certificate from the Tonk district collector confirming no non-forest land is available. Rajasthan's Forest Department proposed the relocation for better wildlife management, aiming to develop the vacated area into a grassland ecosystem. The plan involves felling over 4,000 trees at the proposed new site.