Even as tigers face crisis, Maharashtra fails to release funds | Nagpur News
NAGPUR: Even though there has been a 48% increase in the number of tiger deaths in the country, the Centre’s new financial scheme aimed at unlocking funds for tiger reserves under the Central Sponsorship Program (CSS ) seriously affected the release of money. This affects conservation and wildlife protection work.
With three months remaining for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the official website of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) shows that of the 52 tiger reserves in the country, 33 were released on the first installment under CSS. However, Tiger Reserves say they have yet to receive the funds.
Also in Maharashtra, the NTCA made the first installment to all six tiger reserves, but with the exception of the Tadoba-Andhari, Bor and Sahyadri tiger reserves, which received a partial payment, the State did has not released the funds, seriously affecting the protection, fauna and flora. habitat management work.
While NTCA officials blamed states for the mess, they say several states have yet to implement the introduction of a new financial regime. As part of this program, the Union Ministry of Finance has asked states to set up a State Nodal Agency (SNA), which is mapped by the state hierarchy in the financial management system. public (PFMS). It is an online software system developed and implemented by the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA), expenditure department.
States have established a state-level ANS in a licensed commercial bank licensed to conduct government activities by the state. The other SNA bank accounts for the scheme should be closed and the available balance in these accounts, if any, should be transferred to the SNA.
The Secretaries of State had promised by a commitment that all the provisions of the new regime would be respected by December 31, 2021. However, the procedure was not followed by the States, the release of funds was blocked. According to the NTCA website, the Tiger Authority released the first installment of Rs4.74 crore to TATR, Rs1.93 crore to Pench, Rs1.80 crore to Bor and Rs1.29 crore to Sahyadri.
âWe have appointed the SNA and the process to attach all the tiger reserves to it is underway. Of the Rs55.55 crore including the state and central share sanctioned for tiger reserves, the NTCA released Rs 26 crore to the state, but the reserves did not receive it, âsaid a senior officer of the wildlife wing.
Wildlife activist Dr Jerryl Banait said: âIt is truly disgusting that when our tigers face the worst crisis in their history, the state’s lethargy in not releasing funds is unacceptable. Due to lack of funds, recurring activities such as payment for labor, staff allowance, home improvement, water supply facilities, fire protection, maintenance of various articles, publicity and extension, protective measures and legal assistance to deal with wildlife offenses and any other item, have been severely affected.
With three months remaining for the 2021-2022 fiscal year, the official website of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) shows that of the 52 tiger reserves in the country, 33 were released on the first installment under CSS. However, Tiger Reserves say they have yet to receive the funds.
Also in Maharashtra, the NTCA made the first installment to all six tiger reserves, but with the exception of the Tadoba-Andhari, Bor and Sahyadri tiger reserves, which received a partial payment, the State did has not released the funds, seriously affecting the protection, fauna and flora. habitat management work.
While NTCA officials blamed states for the mess, they say several states have yet to implement the introduction of a new financial regime. As part of this program, the Union Ministry of Finance has asked states to set up a State Nodal Agency (SNA), which is mapped by the state hierarchy in the financial management system. public (PFMS). It is an online software system developed and implemented by the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGA), expenditure department.
States have established a state-level ANS in a licensed commercial bank licensed to conduct government activities by the state. The other SNA bank accounts for the scheme should be closed and the available balance in these accounts, if any, should be transferred to the SNA.
The Secretaries of State had promised by a commitment that all the provisions of the new regime would be respected by December 31, 2021. However, the procedure was not followed by the States, the release of funds was blocked. According to the NTCA website, the Tiger Authority released the first installment of Rs4.74 crore to TATR, Rs1.93 crore to Pench, Rs1.80 crore to Bor and Rs1.29 crore to Sahyadri.
âWe have appointed the SNA and the process to attach all the tiger reserves to it is underway. Of the Rs55.55 crore including the state and central share sanctioned for tiger reserves, the NTCA released Rs 26 crore to the state, but the reserves did not receive it, âsaid a senior officer of the wildlife wing.
Wildlife activist Dr Jerryl Banait said: âIt is truly disgusting that when our tigers face the worst crisis in their history, the state’s lethargy in not releasing funds is unacceptable. Due to lack of funds, recurring activities such as payment for labor, staff allowance, home improvement, water supply facilities, fire protection, maintenance of various articles, publicity and extension, protective measures and legal assistance to deal with wildlife offenses and any other item, have been severely affected.