Kuno-Gandhi Sagar cheetah corridor agreement delayed

Jaipur: A feasibility study for the proposed Cheetah corridor in the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar region is on hold on account of the delay in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh govts signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for development of a cheetah corridor and landscape. Initial expectations were that the agreement will be finalised in Jan 2025. While Rajasthan has okayed the agreement, Madhya Pradesh's nod is still awaited.
The proposed MoU will pave the way for conducting a feasibility study for establishing a cheetah corridor in Kuno-Gandhi Sagar region. The initiative aligns with objectives of Project Cheetah, which seeks to reintroduce breeding populations of cheetahs into safe habitats within their historical range and manage them as a meta-population.
The draft MoU outlines broader goals, including using the cheetah as a flagship species to restore open forests and savanna ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity and ecological balance. It highlights the potential for carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, eco-tourism, and eco-development opportunities to support local livelihoods. Additionally, the agreement includes measures to manage human-wildlife conflicts through compensation, awareness programmes, and conflict resolution strategies.
As per the proposed terms, both states will permit capture, recapture, or release of cheetahs in emergency situations, adhering to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and protocols set by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). "Disputes will first be addressed by a joint committee, with unresolved issues escalated to the additional chief secretaries or principal secretaries of forests from both states, whose decision will be final," reads the draft.
The MoU, once signed, will remain effective for five years, with reviews every two years to assess progress and the possibility of extension based on mutual agreement. Any modifications will require written consent from both parties. The MoU defines responsibilities, commitments, and resources for implementing Project Cheetah across the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar Landscape.
An official source in Rajasthan's forest department said, "The then principal chief conservator of forests & chief wildlife warden expressed readiness for the signing and formally requested Madhya Pradesh to propose a suitable date and venue. However, Madhya Pradesh's additional principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) noted that amendments were made to the draft."