Despite facing higher mortality rate of big cats, the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department is yet to constitute the battalion State Tiger Protection Force (STPF) over a decade. While there were 42 tigers’ deaths in the year 2021, this year (2022) 10 tigers have died in four and half months. In many death cases, poaching have been proved by the team. Amid this condition, special tiger protection force is keep on pending by authorities. in the year 2012, Centre had asked Madhya Pradesh to form the battalion in Kanha, Bandhavgarh and Pench Tiger Reserve. Centre also agreed on 100 per cent funding of the project. There was also condition to recruit field director in all these three tiger reserves by centre only. Sources said that authorities did not want interference of centre in state tiger reserves due to which they keep the project pending. As per plan, it was proposed to assign armed team around forest areas to secure the wildlife.

State Forest Department is also facing acute shortage of police force to assign around the jungles. In absence of adequate police force, Forest Department proposed to assign forest guards and Vanpal to secure the jungle about three years back. As per proposal, three different companies would be working in all the three national parks and each company would be deploying 112 security guards. This includes 24 forest guards from 18 to 25 years of age and 34 Vanpal. However, the proposal has been put in cold storage for three years.

Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ Ajay Dubey, RTI activists and Secretary of Prayatna, said, “I have raised the issue many times but no certain action could be taken by forest officials yet. This is lethargic attitude of authorities and taking advantage of this loophole in system, incident like Guna is being occurring in our State. Poachers are killing the animals and also attacking the forest guards, police team which proves the pitiable condition of officials.” He further informed that earlier it was proposed to form the force in seven steps. In first step, force was to be assigned in Bandhavgarh, Pench and Kanha Tiger Reserve. It was proposed to allow retirement to the staff at 62 years of age and allow them to use arms in case of emergency. This would help to tighten the security provision and keep the poachers away.

“STPF is not being created in MP in order to help mining and mafia,” alleged Ajay Dubey.