Setback to cheetah revival plan in state

JAIPUR: The proposal to revive the now extinct cheetah population in the country has received a setback with some quarters opposing the animal's introduction at the proposed site of Shahgarh Bulge in Jaisalmer.
According to sources, many departments involved in the coordination for preparing the site have objected to the Union government's proposal to bring the cheetah there.
They cited the ongoing oil and natural gas exploration, habitation in the area and the fact that rules of a sanctuary will come into effect in the region if the cheetah is brought there as reasons for opposing the project.
"There are many who are ill informed on the cheetah. They presume the cheetah to be as ferocious as the tiger. There are some oil and natural gas exploration in Shahgarh Bulge and they presume that bringing the cat there will put the life of people working there in jeopardy," said an official.
Shahgarh Bulge is one of the three places in the country where the Union ministry of forest and environment has proposed bringing the cheetah in a bid to re-establish its population in the country. The other two are in Madhya Pradesh. Though the MP government has already given in writing to the Centre on its agreement to the proposal, Rajasthan is yet to respond.
"The area is not a forest land as of now. It has to be acquired and for that a lot of coordination is required among many bodies. Not only that, it is also an international border and the Army is there, the BSF is there and even the ONGC is working there," said an official.
Forest department officials are also divided over bringing the cheetah there though V S Singh, principal secretary, forest, vouched for the site and the project. "The proposed site is one of the best in the state for bringing the cheetah," he said.
According to HM Bhatia, chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan, "No final decision has been taken on the project. The talks are going on and we have had the first round of meeting on how to introduce the cheetah there. But there has to be a synergy among a lot of departments before the process is finalised and that is not happening. But even at the centre, the project is at a preliminary stage."
The issue also crept up at the last meeting of the state wildlife board but no consensus was reached. "The decision to bring the cheetah to Rajasthan will have to be taken at the level of the chief minister. Only if he agrees can we go in for the animal," said Rajpal Singh, member, state wildlife board.