550 crores projects for Gir lions

09-02-2010
550 crores projects for Gir lions
Divya Bhaskar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

Lion census is scheduled in April 2010. at the time state Govt. has prepared a project of Rs. 550 crores (about 125 million USD) for protection of this highly endangered species. To execute the project, state Govt. has submitted it to the control Govt. with demand of Rs. 220 crores initially.

S. K. Nanda, Chief Secretary of MOEF informed that Gir lions are found only in Gujarat and only 359 have survived. To find location of the animals GPS systems, to prevent poaching speed guns, wireless sets and patrolling & protection forces are essential. Rs. 220 crores have been demanded for this purpose. Chief Minister has written to Minister of Environment and forest (of Central Govt) Shree Jayram Ramesh for financial assistance. He has said that central Govt. should spare funds for lions as it is doing for Tigers.