Chronicle Reporter, Bhopal
Despite completing all necessary procedures, the official notification for Madhav National Park’s transition into a Tiger Reserve remains on hold for over a month and a half. This delay persists even though the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) approved the Madhya Pradesh government’s proposal on December 1.
On December 2, the same day the notification for Ratapani Tiger Reserve was issued, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav announced that Madhav National Park would be officially declared a Tiger Reserve within 15 days. Acting swiftly, the Forest Department sent the draft notification for legal review, which was cleared and returned by December 16. However, despite the completion of all formalities, the notification has been inexplicably held up.
Since the CM’s 15-day deadline, an additional 45 days have passed, yet Madhav remains in limbo. Once notified, Madhav will become India’s 58th Tiger Reserve and the 7th in Madhya Pradesh.
Awaiting Madhavrao Scindia’s birth anniversary?
While the exact reason for the delay remains unclear, sources suggest that Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia is behind the hold-up. Notably, it was at his insistence that the process to designate Madhav as a Tiger Reserve was fast-tracked. Speculations indicate that the government might be waiting for March 10, the 80th birth anniversary of Jyotiraditya Scindia’s father, the late Madhavrao Scindia, to make the announcement.
Whether political considerations are at play or not, the delay raises questions. With all approvals in place, why is the official notification still pending? Conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts eagerly await the final declaration to strengthen tiger conservation efforts in the region.
