MP gets lion’s share off Narendra Modi
16 April 2013 1:27 AM GMT
In a blow to the Gujarat government, the Supreme Court on Monday allowed trans-location of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh, saying the species is under threat of extinction and needs a second home.
Both BJP-ruled states, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh governments were fighting in court over the issue on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Centre for Environment, which had sought Asiatic Lions’ translocation to Madhya Pradesh.
The Narendra Modi-led government in Gujarat had opposed the trans-location of lions, while Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government in Madhya Pradesh had supported it. The central government had also supported Madhya Pradesh and wanted Gujarat to translocate some of them to Madhya Pradesh.
A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and C K Prasad has given six months time to the wildlife authorities concerned for trans-locating the lions. An expert committee will now decide on the number of lions to be trans-located. Currently, there are around 400 Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s Gir sanctuary.
Both BJP-ruled states, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh governments were fighting in court over the issue on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by Centre for Environment, which had sought Asiatic Lions’ translocation to Madhya Pradesh.
The Narendra Modi-led government in Gujarat had opposed the trans-location of lions, while Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government in Madhya Pradesh had supported it. The central government had also supported Madhya Pradesh and wanted Gujarat to translocate some of them to Madhya Pradesh.
A bench of Justices K S Radhakrishnan and C K Prasad has given six months time to the wildlife authorities concerned for trans-locating the lions. An expert committee will now decide on the number of lions to be trans-located. Currently, there are around 400 Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s Gir sanctuary.
Next Story
