Accused of Forest Destruction in the Name of Development: Umang Singhar Questions Tiger Conservation

Opposition Leader Raises Concerns on Tiger Conservation

Bhopal | July 28, 2026 | On the occasion of International Tiger Day, Umang Singhar, Leader of Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly, has expressed serious concern over the state of tiger conservation. He has alleged that tiger habitats and forests are being destroyed due to a nexus between development projects and alleged corruption.

Singhar questioned whether increasing tiger numbers alone constitutes conservation, or if protecting their habitats and natural corridors is equally important. He stated that while Madhya Pradesh prides itself on being the 'Tiger State', the reality behind the government's touted conservation achievements is different. He emphasized that conservation is impossible without preserving habitats.

Singhar specifically identified the Ken-Betwa Link Project, the Western Bypass of Bhopal, various road and rail projects, and the increasing land dealings in forest areas as serious threats to tiger conservation. He asserted that development projects are not only impacting wildlife but also potentially enriching a select few, undermining the credibility of governance.

Development Projects Face Scrutiny

Umang Singhar voiced particular concern over the Ken-Betwa Link Project. He noted that a significant part of the Panna Tiger Reserve is at risk of submergence due to this project, which would lead to the felling of lakhs of trees, loss of thousands of hectares of forest land, and severely impact the habitats of tigers and other wildlife.

He pointed out that a Supreme Court committee has also questioned the concept of additional water in the Ken Basin, and numerous independent environmental experts have expressed concerns about various aspects of the project. Singhar alleged that the government, instead of addressing these concerns, is merely confining them to procedural formalities, thereby ignoring the gravity of the situation.

Similarly, he raised serious questions regarding the Western Bypass project in Bhopal. This project is linked to a wildlife corridor considered extremely important for urban tigers by experts. He also alleged that some officials purchased land around the proposed route of this project before it was finalized, leading to a significant price hike later.

Demand for Transparency and Accountability

The Leader of Opposition also stressed administrative accountability. He questioned why detailed scientific studies are not made public if a project affects tiger corridors. He also asked why the reasons for changing project alignments are not disclosed to the public, stating that transparency is not an option but a necessity in a democracy.

Singhar praised the conservation success story of reviving the Panna Tiger Reserve but termed it a serious contradiction that the same government is pushing projects that threaten tiger habitats and natural corridors. He expressed concern over several other projects, including the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (Western Corridor), the Kanha–Pench–Bandhavgarh–Panna Tiger Corridor road, NH-45 (Hiran–Sindhur section), and the Katni–Singrauli railway line, which are posing threats to wildlife movement and survival.

He presented data showing 237 wildlife-vehicle collisions and 94 wildlife deaths on NH-45 in the last two years, and over 39 wildlife deaths on the Katni–Singrauli railway line since 2010.

Three Key Demands from the Government

Umang Singhar put forth three key demands to the government. Firstly, he called for an independent and time-bound investigation into the environmental impacts and land deal allegations related to the Ken-Betwa project, Bhopal Western Bypass, and other sensitive projects.

Secondly, he demanded that all scientific studies, alignments, and decision-making processes for projects linked to tiger corridors be made public. Thirdly, he insisted that if any irregularities are found at any level, strict legal action should be taken against the guilty, regardless of their influence.

He clarified that tiger conservation is not solely the responsibility of the Forest Department, but also of the Road, Rail, Irrigation, Urban Development, and Revenue departments to ensure development plans are created in balance with nature. He stated that effective conservation is not possible amidst administrative negligence, lack of coordination, or allegations of private interests.

On International Tiger Day, Singhar called for every development project to be evaluated against the criteria of transparency, environmental responsibility, and public interest. He concluded that claiming tiger conservation while disregarding constitutional and moral responsibilities is unacceptable. Tigers are not just the pride of the forest, but the lifeline of the entire ecosystem; if their forests are not safe, then the future of our rivers, water sources, biodiversity, and coming generations will also be in peril.