VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh has not received any financial assistance under the Development of Wildlife Habitats sub-scheme of the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats programme for the last five financial years, including the current one (2020-21 to 2025-26), Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav revealed in a written reply to MPs Byreddy Shabari and Appalanaidu Kalisetti in the Lok Sabha.
According to the ministry, the non-release of funds was either because the State failed to submit its Annual Plan of Operations (APO) or sent incomplete proposals that did not meet approval requirements.
While no funds were provided under the ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ sub-scheme, Andhra Pradesh did receive allocations under the ‘Project Tiger & Elephant’ component of the same umbrella scheme.
In 2020-21, Rs 880.60 lakh was allocated for Project Tiger, of which Rs 266.51 lakh was released, and Rs 198 lakh was allocated for Project Elephant, of which Rs 77.28 lakh was released. In 2021-22, allocations for Project Tiger and Project Elephant were Rs 455.32 lakh and Rs 87.13 lakh respectively, with Rs 292.11 lakh and Rs 20.55 lakh released. No funds were allocated or released for either project in 2022-23.
From 2023-24, Project Tiger and Project Elephant were merged into a single scheme as Project Tiger & Elephant (PT&E). That year, Rs 507.72 lakh was allocated, with Rs 135.56 lakh released for tiger conservation and Rs 13.86 lakh for elephant conservation.
In 2024-25, allocations increased to Rs 1,422.53 lakh, with Rs 350.70 lakh and Rs 14.43 lakh released for tigers and elephants respectively.
The Union Ministry stated that the ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’ scheme provides financial assistance on a cost-sharing basis to states and Union Territories for wildlife and habitat conservation, management, and protection.
It further noted that the scheme supports activities such as anti-poaching measures, protection infrastructure, habitat improvement, eco-development, human-wildlife conflict management, and capacity building.