For Madhya Pradesh, cheetahs are a matter of ‘national security’

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh forest department has upheld its decision to withhold correspondences related to the ‘Project Cheetah’, citing concerns over national security and the potential harm to India's sovereignty and integrity. This stance was reiterated in response to a notice from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
The department rejected an RTI application from activist Ajay Dubey, who sought details on the cheetah reintroduction project, specifically management correspondence at Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Sheopur district and Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in Mandsaur district.The request was denied under Section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act, which allows withholding information that could affect India's sovereignty, security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests, or its relations with a foreign state.
Saurav Kumar Kabra, the public information officer at the office of the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), conveyed the department's position to the NTCA.
Kabra stated, “The applicant was informed that, according to the provisions of Section 8(1)(a) of the Right to Information Act 2005, this information could not be provided as it may harm the sovereignty and integrity of India, or its relation with a foreign State. This section includes exemptions for information pertaining to the security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests of India.”
The forest department elaborated on the sensitive nature of Project Cheetah, an ambitious national scheme involving collaboration between India and countries such as South Africa, Kenya, and Namibia. “Project Cheetah is a critical experimental scheme, which received permission from the Hon'ble Supreme Court as a scientific experiment on 28 January 2020. The second phase of Project Cheetah is proposed in Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary, Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, following the establishment of the project in Kuno National Park by scientists from the National Tiger Conservation Authority of the Government of India and the Wildlife Institute of India,” the department stated.
The department said the project's international collaboration and the involvement of foreign scientists and experts, explaining that the disclosure of the requested information could jeopardize these relationships and the project's integrity.
“Given the sensitivity of this scheme, which involves the Government of India and other allied friendly nations, the self-interest of Indian scientists, and their relationships with foreign nations and their experts, the information requested cannot be disclosed. The MoU for Project Cheetah has been signed with partner nations, and guidance is received from foreign scientists and experts periodically,” the department informed the NTCA.
Ajay Dubey has filed a first appeal application following the denial of his RTI request. The order from the first appellate officer is yet to be issued.
“I don’t know when MP received Cheetahs from Kenya. This is not a serious reply at all,” says Dubey adding that he would follow the developments on his appeal.