Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said an appeal has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking permission to build a safari in the Chambal region. He added that this initiative aims to boost tourism and generate employment under the next phase of the Cheetah project.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav announced on Saturday that the state government has submitted an appeal to the Supreme Court to establish a safari in the Chambal region, aiming to create job opportunities for locals.
He stated,
“Yesterday, in the review of the forest department, we tried to mobilise a lot of management for the next phase of the Cheetah project in the Chambal region, especially in terms of employment. An appeal has also been filed in the Supreme Court, requesting to build a safari here and provide employment to people through tourism.”
On Friday, CM Yadav, alongside Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, led a review meeting concerning the Cheetah project at the Chief Minister’s office in Bhopal, where they provided essential guidance to officials.
He noted,
“Today, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav held a review meeting with the Madhya Pradesh government regarding the project ‘Cheetah’ in Bhopal. The Project Cheetah began its journey from Kuno National Park, located in Sheopur district in the state, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Cheetahs became extinct in Asia, and it was reintroduced here from Namibia and South Africa. It is good news that Cheetahs are adapting to the environment and habitat here; their new generation is born here in our jungle, growing and liking the atmosphere here.”
Project Cheetah was initiated to restore the presence of the extinct cheetah in India. As part of the first-ever intercontinental translocation of this species, 20 cheetahs were relocated to Kuno National Park eight from Namibia in September 2022 and 12 from South Africa in February 2023.
Since their introduction, the project has encountered difficulties, with eight adult cheetahs three females and five males losing their lives. Currently, Kuno National Park is home to 26 cheetahs, which include 12 adults and 14 cubs born in India.
The Chambal region, known for its rugged terrain, ravines, and rich biodiversity including critically endangered species like the gharial has been under environmental protection due to its ecological sensitivity. Plans to develop a safari project in the Morena district, which falls in the Chambal area, were introduced earlier by the Madhya Pradesh government to boost eco-tourism and create jobs.
However, environmental activists and wildlife experts raised serious concerns, stating that such a project could disturb the natural habitat and threaten endangered species. As a result, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) put a hold on the project, demanding an environmental clearance and stricter review.
Later, the matter escalated, and a petition was filed in the Supreme Court, questioning whether building a safari park in such a sensitive zone would violate environmental norms and laws like the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
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