Villagers protest fencing of sanctuary in MP for Project Cheetah phase-2

BHOPAL: Project Cheetah seems to have run into rough weather in the second phase as villagers in Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh have rallied against the fencing of Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.
The protests, joined by local political leaders, have halted the ongoing fencing work, posing a challenge to the project's progress. The villagers, believed to be instigated by a section of local politicians, have warned of a major agitation if work resumes.
The primary point of contention is the cattle owned by residents of five neighbouring villages -- Bassi, Booj, Rawali, Kudi and Janapani.For years, these villagers have allowed their livestock to graze within the protected area, forming a crucial part of their traditional grazing practices. The proposed 28 km long fence aims to prevent trespassing into the sanctuary, but the villagers fear that it will impede their age-old practices and disrupt their livelihoods.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had previously sanctioned Gandhi Sagar as a suitable habitat for cheetahs, and the fence was supposed to be ready in six months. Senior officers have been made aware of the situation, considering the significance of the site for the cheetah reintroduction program.
Experts from African countries have already conducted surveys and provided their approval for the site, which makes the resistance from villagers a matter of concern. It is worth noting that similar protests were faced during the first phase of this project by villagers residing around Kuno National Park.
'Need to balance wildlife conservation, needs of locals'
Among the ten sites surveyed across five central Indian states, Kuno Palpur National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh was prioritized for cheetah reintroduction due to its favorable habitat and abundant prey population. The Action Plan for Introduction of Cheetah in India recommended multiple sites based on surveys conducted in 2010 and recent assessments. These sites include Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary-Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary complex, the Shahgarh bulge in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, and the Mukundara Tiger Reserve as a fenced enclosure for conservation breeding and controlled wild conditions of cheetahs.
As tensions escalate between the government's conservation efforts and the local communities' concerns about their livelihoods, authorities emphasize the need to strike a balance that addresses both wildlife preservation and the socio-economic needs of the villagers. The successful reintroduction of cheetahs depends on finding common ground and addressing the apprehensions of the local population.