Odisha TV Bureau | Mar 28, 2013 7:24:34 AM
Bhubaneswar: The Comptroller and Auditor general of India (CAG) has severely criticised the implementation of Project Tiger scheme saying the tiger population in Odisha declined drastically due to inadequate protection measures and deficiency in project management.
The central audit body in its report also rapped the state government for not providing inviolate space for the big cats, low pace of expenditure and delay in relocation of villages from core area.
Quoting tiger census 2004 and 2010, the report stated that tiger population in Odisha fell from 192 in 2004 to 32 in 2010, and both Similipal Tiger Reserve (TR) and Satkosia TR were ranked as ‘POOR’ in the assessment report of MoEF, GoI.
The report pointed out Rs 23.37 crore was utilized by the Field Directors (FDs) of the Rs 27.23 crore released for Similipal TR and Satkosia TR under their Annual Plans of Operations (APOs) for five years (2006-11). “This indicated that there was lack of proper planning and deficiencies in financial management,” it observed.
Lambasting the lack of unified command and control system, the report noted in Satkosia TR there was no full time and the TR was under the supervision of Satkosia Wildlife Division and Mahanadi Wildlife Division.
“As per the guidelines of Project Tiger there should be a Field Director exclusively for each Tiger Reserve” it said.
“Thus the Tiger Reserves did not function under one single line of command and control and the dual administration in supervision of the Tiger Reserves in contravention of the Project Tiger guidelines affected the project implementation and protection inside the Tiger Reserve which has also been specifically mentioned in the assessment report of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for Similipal Tiger Reserve,” the report said.
The NTCA considering the endangered status of tigers and the need for urgently stepping up protection in sensitive areas formulated a set of guidelines in May 2009 for deployment of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) at Similipal TR with 100 per cent central assistance under the scheme Project Tiger.
“But no initiative was taken by GoO for raising of STPF during the period 2009-11. In May 2012, the GoO passed a resolution for establishment of the STPF as per NTCA guidelines after passage of three years. Thus the Tiger Reserve was deprived of central assistance for protection measures. Thus, poaching of elephants, illegal tree felling and mass animal hunting like Akhanda Shikar in the STR could not be controlled,” it noted.
Source: http://odishatv.in/NewsDetail.php?otv=bmV3c0lkPU5TNjg4NTU
Bhubaneswar: The Comptroller and Auditor general of India (CAG) has severely criticised the implementation of Project Tiger scheme saying the tiger population in Odisha declined drastically due to inadequate protection measures and deficiency in project management.
The central audit body in its report also rapped the state government for not providing inviolate space for the big cats, low pace of expenditure and delay in relocation of villages from core area.
Quoting tiger census 2004 and 2010, the report stated that tiger population in Odisha fell from 192 in 2004 to 32 in 2010, and both Similipal Tiger Reserve (TR) and Satkosia TR were ranked as ‘POOR’ in the assessment report of MoEF, GoI.
The report pointed out Rs 23.37 crore was utilized by the Field Directors (FDs) of the Rs 27.23 crore released for Similipal TR and Satkosia TR under their Annual Plans of Operations (APOs) for five years (2006-11). “This indicated that there was lack of proper planning and deficiencies in financial management,” it observed.
Lambasting the lack of unified command and control system, the report noted in Satkosia TR there was no full time and the TR was under the supervision of Satkosia Wildlife Division and Mahanadi Wildlife Division.
“As per the guidelines of Project Tiger there should be a Field Director exclusively for each Tiger Reserve” it said.
“Thus the Tiger Reserves did not function under one single line of command and control and the dual administration in supervision of the Tiger Reserves in contravention of the Project Tiger guidelines affected the project implementation and protection inside the Tiger Reserve which has also been specifically mentioned in the assessment report of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for Similipal Tiger Reserve,” the report said.
The NTCA considering the endangered status of tigers and the need for urgently stepping up protection in sensitive areas formulated a set of guidelines in May 2009 for deployment of Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) at Similipal TR with 100 per cent central assistance under the scheme Project Tiger.
“But no initiative was taken by GoO for raising of STPF during the period 2009-11. In May 2012, the GoO passed a resolution for establishment of the STPF as per NTCA guidelines after passage of three years. Thus the Tiger Reserve was deprived of central assistance for protection measures. Thus, poaching of elephants, illegal tree felling and mass animal hunting like Akhanda Shikar in the STR could not be controlled,” it noted.
Source: http://odishatv.in/NewsDetail.php?otv=bmV3c0lkPU5TNjg4NTU
