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New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Wildlife aid: Centre allocated Rs 47 crore to Telangana, but released just Rs 15 crore
HYDERABAD: Though the Centre had allocated a total of Rs 47.38 crore to Telangana under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme over the past five years, it released just Rs 15.47 crore (about 32%) to the state owing to either lack of Annual Plan of Operation (APO) or submission of incomplete proposals. The IDWH scheme covers two sub-programmes — Development of Wildlife Habitats, and Project Tiger & Elephant, which are aimed at habitat conservation, anti-poaching measures, eco-development and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts. According to data tabled in Lok Sabha, under the Development of Wildlife Habitats sub-scheme, Telangana received an allocation of Rs 1.13 crore in 2020–21, of which Rs 0.37 crore was released. For the next four years (2021–22 to 2024–25) there was no allocation or releases recorded for the state. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change clarified that '0.00' entries indicate that either the Annual Plan of Operation (APO) was not received for the state or incomplete proposals were submitted. Under the Project Tiger & Elephant sub-scheme, the state was allocated Rs 14.34 crore in 2020–21, with Rs 3.52 crore released. In 2021–22, while the allocation was Rs 9.87 crore, only Rs 5.43 crore was released.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bisons thrive in Ganjam reserve forest
1 2 Berhampur: After Debrigarh and Mahanadi wildlife sanctuaries, a sizeable population of the endangered Indian bison is found in Malati reserve forest under Ghumusar North division in Ganjam district. Also called gaur, their number is estimated to be around 70 to 80 in the area, forest officials said. The animal is also found in Chandragiri and Ambajhari forests under Tarsingi range but their number is less than in Malati, they said. "If one visits Malati reserve forest, one can witness the herds of the huge and strong animals roaming freely," said Himansu Sekhar Mohanty, DFO of Ghumusar North. "Though no census has been conducted, their population has been increasing," he said. Mohanty said they have proposed the govt to conduct a bison census in the division and to set up a watchtower for visitors. "Conservation measures taken up by the forest department and protection by locals are some of the reasons for the rise in gaur population. The animals had destroyed standing crops but farmers did not harm them," he further said. "We have provided compensation for crop loss to the farmers immediately. In 2024-25, we provided a compensation Rs 27,590 to nine farmers for destruction of standing crops," the DFO said. "We have created a water body and renovated another at Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh, respectively," he added. Meadow development programmes for increasing food, water and safety of the animals have been taken up under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) scheme, officials said.
