The Chhattisgarh Government's proposed plan for limiting Lemru Elephant Reserve within 450 sq km has landed in controversy after Singhdeo wrote to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, objecting to the gist of the circular issued by the Forest and Climate Change department to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife). It is worth mentioning here that on June 26, 2021, the Forest and Climate Change Department had issued a circular to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), stating that on the demand of eight Members of Legislative Assembly including a Minister, the State Government is contemplating to limit the proposed 1995.48 sq km Lemru Elephant Reserve to 450sq km.

 

It stated that the Lailunga MLA Chakradhar Singh Sidar, Bharatpur-Sonhat MLA Gulab Kamro, Manendragarh MLA Dr Vinay Jaiswal, Lundra MLA Preetam Ram, Katghora MLA Purshottam Kanwar, Kunkuri MLA U D Minz, Korba MLA Mohit Ram and Surguja MLA and State Health and Panchayat Minister T S Singhdeo had urged the state government to limit the Lemru Elephant Project to 450 sq kms considering public sentiments. Reacting strongly to the circular, Panchayat and Health Minister T S Singhdeo in his letter to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, stated that citing reasons of public sentiments for limiting Lemru Elephant Reserve to 450 sq kms by him, is completely baseless and misleading. Adding that he had never made any kind of recommendations for limiting the Lemru project, Singhdeo said in fact he had stated during Cabinet meetings and otherwise, had supported establishment of Lemru Elephant Project in 1995.48 sq kms area, on the basis that no revenue villages from his Assembly constituency is coming within the project.

 

Singhdeo said at that time the Forest Minister as well as senior officials of the department had assured that no revenue village from Ambikapur Assembly constituency is coming under the 1995.48 sq km area. However, villagers from Udaipur and Lakhanpur blocks, which come under his constituency, have informed him that the forest department officials are pressurizing gram panchayats to get approval for inclusion in Lemru Elephant Project, from their respective gram sabhas. Singhdeo further wrote, after getting information from the villagers, he enquired at his level and came to know that the Lemru Elephant Project has been proposed for expansion from 1995.48 sq kms to 3827.67 sq kms, which was at variance with the Cabinet decision. Thereafter, he had put forth the objections raised by the villagers before the State Government.

 

Accordingly, he had proposed that revenue villages should be kept apart from the Lemru project and before inclusion of any village within the project, it is necessary to get approval from the respective gram sabha. Also after drawing the limits of Lemru project, the same should be adequately publicized so that approval of all citizens coming within the project can be taken. Singhdeo further added that he had objected to the project as its expansion was almost twice of which was passed in the cabinet and many villages from his constituency were coming within the project, where villagers were vehemently opposing its inclusion. Such public sentiments should be honoured, he added. Demanding implementation of ‘No Go Area’, a decision which was taken during UPA regime, Singhdeo in his letter reiterated that he had never stated to limit the Lemru project within 450 sq kms.