Cheetahs not part of Kuno plan, key documents missing: MP audit report | India News – Times of India

BHOPAL: Cheetahs were not part of the Kuno management planaccording to a report by the Government of Parliament, which pointed out the violation of the rules and the lack of certain documents regarding the expenditure on Project Cheetah.
Kuno was marked for the move of Girls lions and was designated as their secondary habitat, but there was no movement on that front, the report said.
Auditors sent a detailed report to the state government, flatly rejecting some of the forest department’s claims. Copies of the initial audit findings were obtained through RTI by activist Ajay Dubey, who demanded an inquiry into the objections of financial investigators.
Under the approved management plan for Kuno National Park (2020-21 to 2029-30), the sanctuary was designated as a critical secondary habitat for Asiatic lions — in addition to the Gir Forest in Gujarat — auditors noted, pointing out that no attempt had been made to reintroduce lions by November 2023. This deficiency raises questions about adherence to the management plan and the overall effectiveness of conservation efforts, they said.
The auditors also noted that there were no reports of a three-member expert team appointed by the Supreme Court on January 28, 2020. These reports were not found in the forest department’s records, making verification of the facts submitted to the Supreme Court impossible, the auditors’ report said.
The expenditure of over Rs 44.1 crore on Project Cheetah from 2021-22 to 2023-24 was not in line with the approved management plan, the report said. “This discrepancy suggests misallocation of funds and raises concerns about the proper utilisation of financial resources,” Dubey added.
The auditors found that the forest department had not carried out physical verification of store materials for the 2021-22 and 2022-23 budgets, which was in violation of Rule 133 of the MP Financial Code. The required certification for physical verification was missing and no stock accounts were prepared, which is a serious violation of the regulations.
The audit also identified that geotagged photographs, which are required to document project work, were not being maintained. This lack of documentation, combined with the expenditure of Rs 3,64,74,930 on pasture development and weed/latana eradication in 2020-21, 2022-23 and 2023-24, suggests a “faulty procedure and potential for wastage”.
In response, the forest department has promised to address these issues by preparing the missing inventory accounts and ensuring future compliance with documentation requirements. However, the accountants have recommended that the issue be brought to the attention of senior officials for further action.