Madhya Pradesh government again rejects RTI plea on cheetahs citing ‘national security’ | India News – Times of India

Madhya Pradesh government again rejects RTI plea on cheetahs citing ‘national security’ | India News – Times of India



BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh forest division has but once more denied an RTI request for info on Venture Cheetah, citing ‘nationwide safety issues’.
RTI activist Ajay Dubey, who requested data on administration and funds of Venture Cheetah, is shocked at having his second request turned down. “I’ll attraction to the data fee and transfer courtroom towards the state chief of wildlife towards these denials underneath the guise of ‘nationwide safety’.I’ll problem it on the right platforms,” Dubey mentioned, questioning how ‘nationwide safety’ is any purpose to withhold public data on cheetahs. The denial has raised issues about transparency within the administration of Venture Cheetah.
Ten cheetahs died at Kuno Nationwide Park since March final 12 months, 4 of them being cubs born in India.
Final month, Dubey’s RTI plea for info on cheetah administration was turned down on the plea that it had ‘potential to hurt India’s sovereignty and integrity’. When the refusal made headlines, MP govt needed to clarify itself to Nationwide Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the place it claimed the data involved ‘nationwide safety’.
Simply how, was not defined then, nor now.
In his second RTI question, Dubey requested for monetary data, together with funds allotted for Venture Cheetah over the previous 3 years, and expenditures associated to native tribals, cheetah hospitals, and audit and inspection studies. He additionally sought paperwork detailing correspondence since Feb 2024 between NTCA, Madhya Pradesh govt and principal chief conservator of forests, wildlife, on the cheetah undertaking. He sought data of directions, orders, and correspondence from Kenya, South Africa and Namibia associated to the undertaking, together with any MoUs signed with these international locations since January 1, 2024.







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