Odisha has been ranked poor by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) as far as conservation and protection of tigers in their natural habitats is concerned, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has pointed out in its recent report. The report on economic sector for year ended March, 2012, which was tabled in State Assembly last week, has indicted the State Government for lack of sincerity in management of Project Tiger.
The tiger population declined drastically due to inadequate protection measures in project management, not providing inviolate space, low pace of expenditure and delay in relocation of villages from core area, the CAG observed.
As per the tiger census between 2004 and 2010, the tiger population in Odisha came down from 192 in 2004 to a mere 32 in 2010. Similipal and Satkosia Tiger Reserve were ranked as “poor” in the assessment report of the MoEF, the report pointed out.
Notably, the Project Tiger in the State is being implemented in Similipal and Satkosia reserves with funds from the State and Centre. Though Rs 27.23 crore, including Rs 22.44 crore Central share, was available with the State Government for the period 2006-11 for both the tiger reserves to ensure maintenance of viable population of tigers, Rs 3.86 crore remained unutilised by the concerned Field Directors, the report said.
The CAG observed that full benefits out of Central assistance for development of the tiger projects could not be availed due to the non-utilisation of released funds.
The report indicated that there was lack of proper planning and deficiencies in financial management in the implementation of the Tiger Project, it said.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (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 Tiger Reserve with 100 per cent Central assistance under the scheme. But no initiative was taken by the State Government for raising STPF during the period 2009-11, it said.
Pointing out that the State Government passed a resolution for establishment of STPF as pre NTCA guidelines after passage of three years, the CAG said due to the delay, the tiger reserve was deprived of Central assistance for protection measures for three years.
The CAG blamed the Chief Controlling Officer and the Controlling Officer for lack of sincerity and seriousness in taking timely action for vital protection measures with 100 per cent central assistance.
The non-availing of the assistance has resulted in poaching of elephants, illegal tree felling and mass animal haunting like Akhanda Shikar in the STR could not be controlled, it pointed out.
The CAG also found lapses in implementation of the Centrally- sponsored tiger projects with lack of unified command and control system. The Similipal tiger reserve did not function under one single line of command and control and the dual administration in supervision is in contravention of the project guidelines.
Similarly, the report pointed out that though under the project tiger scheme, one of the major components was deployment of squads in buffer areas of the reserve, the squad members were deployed for part of the year instead of the whole year. Besides, there was non-utilistion of funds which indicated lack of planning for engagement of protection squads in the tiger reserve, it said.
