COVID-19 pandemic throws wildlife projects off track
   Date :20-Jul-2020

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By Ankita Garg :
 
COVID-19 pandemic has thrown various projects of MP Forest and Wildlife off track including translocation of Asiatic lion, Cheetah, development of new wildlife sanctuaries as well. The Forest Department has submitted its draft for 15 new wildlife sanctuaries, wildlife wing was expecting translocation of Asiatic lion from Gujarat and cheetah from African countries.
 
To set up new wildlife sanctuaries, District Forest Officers identified possible areas in their districts where sanctuaries and parks can be developed. Directions were given to mark 200 hectare land for each sanctuary. The proposal aimed to increase revenue from tourism sector by 200 crores. There were also proposal for wildlife entertainment zone to attract tourists. There was separate proposal of developing Ratapani and Mandata as National Park. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Alok Kumar said, “Draft for new wildlife sanctuaries has been submitted already to the Government by the Wildlife Wing. This was really a good initiative for better conservation of wildlife.
 
But currently, all projects have been put on hold due to pandemic. We are also focusing on safety of animals as well as staff from the deadly virus.” He further said the pandemic has paralysed entire working and many people have been left unemployed as their livelihood depended on tourism only. Though national parks and buffer zone of tiger reserves have been kept open during monsoon but number of visitors is very less.