Ahmedabad /New Delhi

In last three years the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF) released Rs. 34.39 crore for conservation of Asiatic Lion in Gujarat, Rs.488.58 crore released under ‘Project Tiger’ and Rs. 48.71 crore released under ‘Project Elephant’ in various states of the county. The population of lion, tiger and elephant has also shown increase over past few years. Mr. Prakash Javadekar, minister of state (independent charge) for environment, forests and climate change, stated in Rajya Sabha on December 18, 2014 in reply to the question raised by member of Rajya Sabha Mr. Parimal Nathwani.

The minister in his reply stated that under ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ Rs.10.39 crore were released for conservation of lions in 2012-13 and the fund was nil in 2013-14, while under 13th finance commission Rs.12 crore were released 2012-13 and 13-14 each. Of total Rs. 488.58 crore released under ‘Project Tiger’, Rs. 4.43 crore were released in Jharkhand, while of total Rs. 48.71 crore released for ‘Project Elephant’ in last three years, Rs. 2.14 crore were released in Jharkhand, said Mr. Javadekar.

He also stated that Rs. 206.09 crore were released under CSS – Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats in last three years, of which Rs. 16.91 crore were released in Gujarat and Rs. 2.80 crore were released in Jharkhand.

Mr. Nathwani wanted to know about the steps being taken by the Forest Department to increase the population of important animals like tigers, lions and elephants, population figures of all the three precious animals spread over in different forests in the country, fund allocation and utilization for animal welfare.

The minister stated that the protection and conservation of the wildlife including lions, tiger and elephant is the responsibility of the concerned State governments. The Central government provides assistance to the State governments under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”, ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’, Mr. Javadekar said.

According to the statement tabled in the house, lion population has increased from 359 (+10) in 2005 to 411 in 2010, while number of tigers has increased from 1,411 in 2006 to 1,706 in 2010 and elephant population has increased from 27,669-27,719 in 2007 to 29,391-30,711 in2012.
While elaborating on steps taken by the government to protect the wildlife, Mr. Javadekar said that the Asiatic lion has been identified for taking up activities under the “Recovery Programs for Saving Critically Endangered Species and Habitats” component of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme – “Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats”.

The government has created protected areas covering important habitats of lions, tigers and elephants in different states, highest level of legal protection has been provided to lions, tigers and elephants against hunting and commercial exploitation and stringent punishment provisions are made for the offenders, CBI has been empowered to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders, he said.

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