Will Madhav National Park be Designated as Madhya Pradesh's Eighth Tiger Reserve?

Efforts have been reignited to establish Madhav National Park in Shivpuri as the eighth tiger reserve in Madhya Pradesh. Previously, this initiative faced a setback when former Shivpuri MLA Yashodhara Raje declined to provide the necessary No Objection Certificate (NOC). However, following the recent elections, both the MLA and MP have changed, and the new public representatives have expressed their support, issuing consent letters to advance the project. If all goes as planned, Madhav National Park is poised to become the state's eighth tiger reserve.

Madhav National Park: Small but Strategic

Madhav National Park, located in Shivpuri, is relatively small in area compared to other national parks in Madhya Pradesh. Given its size, the park requires additional forest land to accommodate and protect the tigers that will be introduced. Tigers need extensive space to roam, and without sufficient area, they may face disturbances. This is why the process of expanding the park’s area through the creation of a tiger reserve has commenced.

Forest Dept’s Land Proposal

Currently, Madhav National Park covers an area of 375 square kilometers, while the surrounding general forest spans approximately 3,500 square kilometers. In the proposal sent to the government, the park management has requested the transfer of about 1,276 square kilometers or more from the general forest to the tiger reserve. The park management is optimistic about acquiring this land, particularly because central government ministers and regional MPs are enthusiastic about the project.

Renewed Efforts by Park Management

To meet the conditions for establishing a tiger reserve, the Madhav National Park management had initially included 1,276 square kilometers from the general forest division in its proposal. However, the first proposal was stalled when the former Shivpuri MLA did not provide a consent letter. The proposal was therefore not approved at the State Wildlife Board meeting in February.

With the recent change in political leadership, new consent letters from all public representatives were obtained and included in the second proposal submitted by the park management. The management is hopeful that this time, the proposal will receive approval at the upcoming State Wildlife Board meeting.

Key Endorsements Received in July

Before submitting the second proposal to designate Madhav National Park as a tiger reserve, the park management secured the consent of all local MLAs during a meeting held in February. However, the proposal was temporarily shelved due to the impending Lok Sabha elections. By July, regional MP and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had also provided his consent. With the backing of all relevant public representatives, the second proposal has now been officially submitted.

Madhav National Park: The State's Eighth Tiger Reserve

Madhya Pradesh, often referred to as the "Tiger State," boasts the highest tiger population in India, with 758 tigers. The state currently has seven tiger reserves, with the seventh, Veerangana Rani Durgavati Tiger Reserve, being declared last year. The existing tiger reserves include Satpura, Pench, Kanha, Panna, Bandhavgarh, and Sanjay Dubri. Shivpuri's Madhav National Park is expected to become the eighth tiger reserve in the state.

Transition to Tiger Reserve Regulations

The proposal to establish Madhav National Park as a tiger reserve includes the incorporation of 1,276 square kilometers of forest land from the General Forest Division. This area encompasses 13 villages, which will be designated as a buffer zone once the tiger reserve is established. Following the approval from the State Wildlife Board, the proposal will be forwarded to the Central Wildlife Board, where additional formalities will be completed. The forest land included in the tiger reserve will then be governed by tiger reserve regulations rather than the Forest Act.

Optimism for Approval

Uttam Kumar Sharma, CCF, Tiger Project, stated that with the support of all public representatives, the second proposal to designate Madhav National Park as a tiger reserve has been submitted. Sharma expressed confidence that, given the unanimous consent from public representatives, the proposal is likely to receive approval in the upcoming State Wildlife Board meeting.