Madhya Pradesh: Amid Tribal Protests, Government Puts Sardar Patel Sanctuary Plans On Hold

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The state governmenton Monday put on hold the proposal to develop the Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel sanctuary in the general forest area of Sehore.

This decision comes in the wake of former Chief Minister and Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, voicing his reservations against the sanctuary in the larger interest of the tribals.

Last Saturday, thousands of tribals gathered at the Sehore Collectorate to protest against the proposed sanctuary. They alleged that forest officials were trying to evict them from the lands they had been cultivating for over thirty years. They alleged that notices were being served to them and that forest officials were trying to show their land as encroachment.

Chouhan, who was at the Collectorate office for a meeting, had come out to meet the protesters and assured them that he was with them. He also said that he felt there was no need for a sanctuary.

The proposal for the sanctuary snowballed into a major controversy with the Leader of Opposition, Umang Singhar, claiming that tribals were becoming victims of atrocities at the hands of forest officers in Chouhan’s constituency.

Meanwhile, Monday’s order, issued by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Wild Life,Shubhranjan Sen, said that on the lines of government directives, the proposal to constitute Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Sanctuary in the general forest area of Sehore has been adjournedtill further decision and no action will be taken till next order.