Bhopal: Chief Minister Kamal Nath, in a letter to PM Narendra Modi, has urged for immediate translocation of Asiatic lion from Gir (Gujarat) to Kuno National Park, Madhya Pradesh.
Nath requested the Prime Minister to intervene in this matter and to issue directives to the Union Ministry for forest and environment and government of Gujarat for an early action in this regard.
In the letter Nath said all the recommendations made by the Wildlife Institute of India and expert committee formed in connection to the translocation of Asiatic Lions to Kuno have been implemented by the State Government.
“Twenty villages (1543 families) have already been rehabilitated by the state government. Complete arrangement as regard to food for the lion has been made in the Kuno National Park.
Substantial amount of money has been incurred by the state government on these arrangements. Now the Kuno National Park is ready to welcome the Asiatic Lion,” Nath’s letter stated. He also mentioned in his letter that as per the recommendations made by the committee, the area of Kuno National Park has already been extended by additional 404 Square KM of forest area.
Union Ministry of Forest and Environment while expressing its concern had said that it is essential to establish a second home for the endangered species Asiatic Lion.
If it is confined to only one habitat then this species will become extinct. Kuno National Park of Madhya Pradesh is the best habitat for Asiatic Lion. According to the order of the Supreme Court dated April 15, 2013, the Asiatic Lion was supposed to be shifted from Gujarat to the Kuno National Park within 6 months.