48 crores grant from central Govt. for Lion conservation

26-03-2010
48 crores grant from central Govt. for Lion conservation
Gujarat Samachar
Briefly translated from Gujarati

Central Govt. has sanctioned Rupees 48 crores for Lion conservation for 2010-11 under Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme. In year 2008-09 annd 2009-10 it was only Rs. 32 lacs and Rs. 92.08 lacs respectively. Govt. of Gujarat had demanded Rs. 236.17 crores of which only 48 crores are approved.

Recently a meeting of Centre Ministry for forest and Environment had met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister in which Chief Minister's demand for funds for Lion conservation was considered that Govt. is spending heavily on conservation of about 1400 tigers where as it is not contributing generously for even more endangered 359 Asiatic lions. Govt. of Gujarat had proposed scheme of "Consolidated Long Term Conservation of Asiatic Lion in Greater Gir region" in which it had requested help for Rs. 236.17 Crores, in which 10% would be share from State Govt. Shree S. K. Nanda, Secretary of Forest & Environment Dept., who represented Govt. of Gujarat in the meeting confirmed this. He added that this fund will be used for modernizing lion conservation and management, Maldhari problems, acquiring speed-guns to control speeding vehicles through Sanctuary rounds etc.