Rajasthan fails to utilise grant for tigers

JAIPUR: The state forest department has failed to utilise a Central grant of Rs 1.22 crore allotted to it during 2007-08 under the project tiger scheme in Ranthambore, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has stated in a report.

The CAG, who scrutinised the records of the deputy conservator of forests and deputy director (core) of Project Tiger in Ranthambore, pointed out that a sum of Rs 2.76 crore was allotted for the year 2007-08 by the Union government for minor constructions and eco-development work in the forest.

Subsequently, the Centre released a sum of Rs 1.54 crore in two installments — Rs 1.5 crore in July 2007 and Rs 0.04 crore in March 2008. The remaining sum was to be released after 85% utilisation of this amount..

The state government, after receiving the money from the Centre, handed it over to the forest department in September 2007. However, the department failed to utilise the amount even by March 2008 as a result of which the remaining sum of Rs 1.22 crore was not given by the Centre at all.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/State-fails-to-utilise-grant-for-tigers/articleshow/5761421.cms

Non-relocation of village in Dudhwa worrying conservationists

Aligarh: The delay in relocation of a village located in the Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh is causing worry to conservationists who believe that it will further endanger the Indian tiger.

Despite an Allahabad High Court order in 2003, district officials in Lakhimpur Kheri have failed to relocate inhabitants of Surma village to an alternative site.

In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, wildlife activist Kaushelendra Singh of 'Tiger and Terrain Society' has made a plea for expediting the relocation of the village located in the core area of the park

Surma, with a population of nearly 4000 people, is occupying more than 500 acres of land within the park. Conservationists are also worried that the village is serving as a base for poachers and internationals gangs carrying out illicit trade in animal parts.

http://www.zeenews.com/news616553.html