Conceptualised in 2007 and commissioned three years ago, the centre sprawling over 10 hectares in Muta, 30km from capital Ranchi, sits idle today without a single bird to host. Ask officials why and they will pin the blame for the inordinate delay on the Centre, which is yet to grant permission for the breeding programme. But, there is more to the story than the state would like to admit.

"We have been in correspondence with the wildlife cell of the Union ministry of forest, environment and climate change, but are yet to get the nod. Under the Wildlife Act, to keep and rear in captivity endangered species, we need to have due authorisation from the Government of India," said an official at the chief wildlife warden Pradeep Kumar's office.

Ranchi DFO Kamlesh Pandey, under whose jurisdiction the Mutacentre falls, echoed the official. "We are ready to start the breeding programme. The moment we get permission, we will start rearing vultures," he said.

A source in the Ranchi wildlife division, however, revealed why Jharkhand babus were more at fault than those in the Union forest ministry. "The main issue is lack of vision on how to run the breeding programme," he said.

The Union ministry had asked how many vultures the state intended to have to start the centre and from where these scavengers would come from. The state forest department, in its reply, proposed to bring the vultures from Hazaribagh, where they exist in good numbers.

"That was around three-four years ago. Later, the forest department sent another proposal, stating that they would get vultures from Pinjore in Haryana. But, Haryana refused to part with its birds. So, a fresh proposal for procuring vultures from Hazaribagh was sent to the Centre," the source explained how precious time was lost.

The official maintained that while the proposal was approved, the Union ministry enquired about the state's technical expertise in catching vultures. "We proposed to tie up with Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) as our technical partner for the breeding programme. The Centre agreed. In 2013, it asked us to finish formalities and seek formal permission. Nothing moved thereafter."

Around six months ago, a proposal to formally sign an MoU with BNHS was drawn up, but that is pending at the chief wildlife warden's office, the official said. "Unless we do our groundwork properly and on a priority basis, how will the Centre give the go-ahead for such an important conservation programme?"

Chief wildlife warden Kumar maintained they were trying their best to launch the initiative at the earliest. "We are in touch with the Centre to get a go-head. In the meanwhile, I have asked officials to keep tabs on injured vultures anywhere so that these can be brought there for rehabilitation," he said.