Rumble In The Jungle

A proposal to set up an empowered committee to boost tiger tourism in Madhya Pradesh sparks a turf war in the government, dividing conservationists

- Rahul Noronha

A plan to set up an ‘empowered wildlife advisory committee’ in Madhya Pradesh has been caught up in the conservation versus tourism debate and is facing stiff resistance from the state’s forest department. A proposal to create such a body was recently sent to the state government by Delhi-based conservationist Valmik Thapar (who was also recently appointed to the state’s wildlife advisory board). The proposal has been rejected by the state’s chief wildlife warden, U. Prakasham, who says that such a committee is not needed. A section of conservationists had also opposed the proposal—they argue that such a committee would favour tourism over conservation.

Tourism has emerged as a major focus for the Kamal Nath-led state government, which hopes the sector can provide substantial employment and revenue. In his proposal, Thapar wrote that he was suggesting such a committee—aimed at restructuring wildlife policies governing the use of forest areas—after a discussion with the chief minister, and that he would be willing to accept an assignment as vice-chairperson of the said committee. Former chief minister Digvijaya Singh has been suggested for the post of chairperson, with other members drawn from the ranks of tourism experts, forest department officials (including the chief wildlife warden) and eminent wildlife scientists, such as Raghu Chundawat. The committee was to submit its first report in October.