Nagpur: Even when the forest fire season is on the verge of beginning, tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the state of lack of funds for the state government apathy.
The MoEFCC not been able to release funds for protected areas (PA) due to the country’s problems.
Maharashtra has the highest number, more than 70, HK in this country and received funding from the Union environment ministry under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat (IDWH).
However, in 2021-22, even as the financial year will end, none of the sanctuaries has received funding from MoEFCC.
forest department sources said the reason for the non-disbursement of non-compliance by the state government in implementing public finance management system (PFMS) introduced by MoEFCC and NTCA.
Under the scheme, the Union finance ministry has asked states to establish a nodal state agency (SNA), which is mapped by the hierarchy of the state in the public financial management system (PFMS).
It is a web-based online software system developed and implemented by the Controller General of Accounts (CGA), the department spending.
Countries should set the SNA at the state level in scheduled commercial bank authorized to conduct government business by the state.
Another bank accounts of the SNA for the scheme to be closed and the balance available in the account, if any, should be transferred to the SNA.
The secretary of state has promised through an undertaking that all the provisions under the new scheme will be compiled by December 31 2021.
However, as the procedure has not been followed by several countries, the disbursement of funds has stalled.
Talking to TOI, principal secretary (forest) B Venugopal Reddy said, “No problem at all regarding funding for wildlife parks.
We have adequate funds.
” However, NTCA website shows that it has released the first installment of funds under centrally sponsored scheme (CSS) for all tiger reserve in Maharashtra but the money has not been released to the tiger reserve by the finance department.
Most of the tiger reserve and the park manager complained to TOI, “The situation has reached a flash point and we have to spend out of pocket to draw a line of fire to save our precious forests.
Secondly, because there is no money for fuel, we have stopped patrols.
In addition, we also do not have the money to pay wages for majoors van, which is involved in various works of protection.
” “We manage somehow to borrow from the Tiger Conservation Foundation (TCF), which still has some reserves for tourism receipts.
If not, MoEFCC has not released the money for the holy sites this year, “said park manager on condition of anonymity.
They said, “The Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) running on an advance salary from the foundation.
their fixed salaries have not been paid since the May.
NTCA has been asked to carry out anti-snare drive, but where is the money to pay for temporary workers? We do not pay royalties for the use of wireless systems as well.
” “A country like Odissa not only spent the first installment of funds CSS, but also has managed to get the second installment even only on the basis of a business from their state government.
However, Maharashtra find another way.
This is despite the forest portfolio be with none other than the minister Uddhav Thackeray, “said forest officials.