7 days ago
NTCA highlights salary delays, staff shortage in its probe into M.M. Hills tiger deaths
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has flagged delays in salary disbursement and chronic staff shortage in its report investigating the death of five tigers at M.M. Hills wildlife sanctuary this June.
Though the NTCA has not attributed the death to any of these issues, it has mentioned inadequate allotment of funds and delay in its release as one of the weaknesses plaguing M.M. Hills reserve.
Wildlife activists have argued that if not for the delay in salary disbursement, the death of the tigers could perhaps have been avoided.
Delay in sanctions
According to the NTCA report, the Annual Plan of Operation (APO) for 2025–26, which enables the release of funds for frontline salaries and operations, was submitted by the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), M.M. Hills, to Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) T. Heeralal on May 21, 2025. But it was sanctioned only on May 30, with the approved copy reaching the division office on July 2 — almost a week after the tigers were found dead on June 26.
The authorities were aware of the fact that the frontline staff had not been paid for three months and there was also a protest on June 23. Given the gravity of the situation, the CCF, Chamarajanagar, should not have delayed the approval of APO and this delay is questionable, said conservation activist Akhilesh Chipli.
While forest officials claim the timelines follow standard State-level procedure, activists say the delay is inexcusable, especially when forest watchers are expected to patrol in dangerous terrain under constant threat from wildlife and poachers.
Frontline staff
Mr. Chipli said that frontline staff do not earn more than ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per month. Delaying their salaries for three to four months at a stretch is inhuman, he added.
Though the contractor was supposed to make payments for upto six months in case of a delay in the release of funds by the government, the former said that payment of ₹90 lakh for three months was a huge financial burden on him, according to the NTCA report.
'Had the APO been cleared on time, salaries would not have been delayed and the morale of ground staff wouldn't have taken a hit,' said Mr. Chipli, who argued that such delays cannot be dismissed as procedural issues.
Giridhar Kulkarni, wildlife conservationist, said given the hierarchy and based on documents, it did not appear that the Range Forest Officer and the Assistant Conservator of Forest had any role in the disbursement of salaries which was cited as the primary reason for their suspension, and called for the revocation.
Severe staff shortage
The report also highlighted another systemic failure of chronic staff shortage which compromises forest protection. In M.M. Hills wildlife division, 53% of sanctioned posts are vacant and out of 222 sanctioned positions, only 103 are filled.
In the Hoogyam range, where the deaths occurred, there is just one forest watcher and seven beat foresters for nearly 148 sq. km of sensitive forest area, as per the report.
'Declare it sanctuary'
NTCA has called for declaring the M.M. Hills Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve to provide an additional layer of protection and scale up conservation efforts.
