Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Two years after its launch, the Cheetah Project of Kuno National Park has been successful. The cheetah population is rising, and 12 big cats—five adults and seven cubs—have been set free in the wild. However, for all the chest-beating by the forest officials, the much-anticipated economic boom is yet to be seen.

When the project was introduced, it was touted to boost the local economy with several hotels, restaurants, and lodges springing up around Kuno, even providing employment to local villagers.  It was also supposed to have created employment opportunities for local guides and drivers.

Yet, nothing of the sort has happened. A senior forest officer of Kuno said that only one hotel has opened nearby. Tourist inflow has also remained abysmal, with a mere 3-4 tourists visiting daily. 

Speaking to the Free Press, Cheetah Mitra Kuldeep Adivasi confirmed that only one big hotel has come up near Moraban and no such job opportunities have come up as were anticipated. He claimed that land around Kuno was selling like hot cakes when the project came up.

As per his knowledge, just a bigha of land was selling for over Rs 1 crore. “It seems that an economic change will take time to reach Kuno,” he said.

Gwalior Chambal Commissioner Manoj Khatri said the future appears bright as the state government is taking measures to increase tourist influx in Kuno.

Meanwhile, Gwalior-Chambal Commissioner Manoj Khatri sounded upbeat and said that the future appears bright as the state government is taking measures to increase tourist influx in Kuno.

‘Airstrip might bring in tourists’ 

A senior officer of the Gwalior-Chambal belt said that tourists might start visiting if the government came up with an airstrip around Kuno. Currently, the Kuno gate is too farfrom Sheopur. In what could boost their business, hoteliers are also demanding that a new gate be set up in Sheopur.