National Tiger Conservation Authority releases Rs10.48crore to state PAs

Times of India , Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Correspondent : Vijay Pinjarkar, TNN
NAGPUR: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has released Rs10.48 crore for 30 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks and four tiger reserves in the state. However, over 5,000 van majoors or labourers engaged in forest and wildlife protection work have not been paid wages for the past five months.

This is perhaps for the first time that the NTCA, a statutory body under the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), released first instalment of funds under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) in one go. The second instalment will be released only after 60% amount of the first is spent.

The grants include over Rs4 crore for sanctuaries and national parks and Rs6.43 crore for four tiger reserves. Interestingly, Mansinghdeo Wildlife Sanctuary, which was notified in 2010, is yet to get separate funds.

The proposals for tiger reserves and sanctuaries were sent by the principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) in May and June and money was released now. However, it will take more time for the money to reach the field. It will be released by the state government through a separate GR. Till then van majoors won't be paid.

"The NTCA approval proposals are being sent to the state government. We expect the money will be released next month. Only then van majoors will be paid," said SWH Naqvi, PCCF (wildlife), Maharashtra.

Non-payment of wages to van majoors has become a chronic problem. Despite the forest department filing an affidavit in the high court on a PIL assuring regular payment to van majoors last year, wages are not being paid regularly.

"It's really a shame. The forest workers' are living in penury. They don't even have money to buy books and pay school fees of children. The workers are being forced to borrow from moneylenders at 10% interest," said Siraj Patel, central president, Maharashtra Forest Guards, Forest Employees and Forest Labourers Union.

Even as poaching is at its peak, forest officials have failed to learn lessons. "How can you expect van majoors to protect forest and tigers without paying wages. Forest officials wouldn't have kept quiet had they been kept waiting for five months to get their salaries," a fuming Patel added.

Meanwhile, NTCA has not released additional funds for forests outside protected areas in Chandrapur district for tiger security. Besides, allocation for the E-eye surveillance project in Tadoba has also not been released. No money has been released for rehabilitation of villages inside tiger reserves either.

Long Wait For Funds

Parks Grant (in Rs)

Tadoba 1.56 cr

Pench 1.43 cr

Melghat 2.74 cr

Sahyadri 69 lakh

Chaprala 24 lakh

Nagzira 32 lakh

Navegaon 33 lakh

Bor 19 lakh

Tipeshwar 17 lakh

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/National-Tiger-Conservation-Authority-releases-Rs10-48crore-to-state-PAs/articleshow/15913814.cms
 


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