MP Wildlife Sanctuaries: Decades in Legal Limbo

A significant conservation concern has emerged in Madhya Pradesh, where 24 of the state's 26 wildlife sanctuaries are operating without final notification. This situation has persisted for decades, with some areas declared protected over forty years ago. The prolonged "initial notification limbo" under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, creates legal uncertainty for critical habitats and compromises conservation measures, including the implementation of Eco-Sensitive Zones.

Sanctuaries such as Ratapani and Singhori, initially notified in 1976, along with Ghatigaon, Ken Gharial, and National Chambal Sanctuary, reportedly still await final approval. This extensive delay is largely due to the failure of district administrations to resolve land and community rights issues, a prerequisite for final notification under Section 26A of the Act.

The legal ambiguity has tangible ecological consequences. Untreated sewage and solid waste discharge into water bodies within sanctuaries, such as the Wainganga stream in Pachmarhi sanctuary, pose disease risks to wildlife. This echoes past incidents, like the 2018 Gir National Park epidemic that tragically affected Asiatic lions.