Project Cheetah: Audit report flags 'lack of coordination' between Central, MP govt depts

The audit also questioned the genesis of the cheetah reintroduction project, with no clear records available to clarify who initiated the process

A report by the Accountant General of Madhya Pradesh has raised serious concerns regarding the management of Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park, bringing to light a lack of coordination between Central and state government departments. The report highlights significant gaps in the implementation of the ambitious project, including the absence of proper planning and involvement of key personnel.

The audit, covering the period from August 2019 to November 2023, flagged multiple issues. The most striking revelation was that despite the arrival of cheetahs from Africa, the park's official management plan for 2020-2030 did not mention the reintroduction of cheetahs. Instead, the park was initially identified as a second habitat for Asiatic lions, but no effort to reintroduce lions had been made up until November 2023.