MP: Row Over Picnic Party by Ex-forest Minister in Tiger Reserve

Bhopal: A purported video showing former forest minister and senior BJP MLA Vijay Shah enjoying a ‘picnic party’ in a core area of Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR) in Madhya Pradesh has surfaced, triggering a controversy.

Wildlife activist Ajey Dubey on Tuesday submitted the video to chief wildlife warden of Madhya Pradesh Aseem Srivavastav seeking action in the matter.

“Picnicking and cooking in the core area of a reserve forest is prohibited under Wildlife Conservation Act. I have submitted the video to the chief wildlife warden seeking action against Mr Shah as well as the local forest staff who had arranged the picnic party for him. The chief wildlife warden has assured me to seek a report from the STR authorities on the incident”, Mr Dubey told this newspaper.

In the video, the former minister was heard describing the site even as some forest staff members were seen preparing food.

“We are atop a 4,000 ft-high hill, surrounded by lush green mountains and beautiful gorges. The scenic sight demonstrates how beautiful STR is”, he was heard saying while taking video of the reserve forest on a cell phone.

According to Mr Dubey, the ‘picnic’ site is close to the Pichhada area which falls under the core area of STR.

The local forest staff had arranged the picnic party for the former minister and his friend, Mr Dubey claimed.

Mr Shah, who has retained his Assembly constituency of Harsud in the recent polls, was forest minister in the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.

Sources said that the site the former forest minister had visited is close to the Rori Ghat Siddha Baba hills inside the STR.

In the video clip, one of the forest guards was heard detailing the dishes being cooked (for the former minister).