Question : FUNDS FOR FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

(a) whether the funds meant for forestry and wildlife conservation have remained underutilised in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the time by which the said amount lying unspent and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether demands have been received from various quarters to sanction more funds for afforestation and environment protection in the country;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government to utilise the unspent funds meant for afforestation and environment protection?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)

(a) & (b) The Ministry provides funds for forestry and wildlife conservation under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, viz., ‘National Afforestation Programme’ (NAP), ‘Intensification of Forestry Management Scheme’, ‘Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats’, ‘Project Tiger’ and ‘Project Elephant’. Funds are released under these schemes to State/Union Territory Governments only after the receipt of utilization certificate and progress report in respect of the funds released during the previous financial year from the State/ Union Territory Governments.

(c) & (d) State/ Union Territory Governments have submitted proposals for financial assistance under these Centrally sponsored Schemes. Details of funds released during 2011-12 are given in the Annexure.

(e) The funds are released to the State/ Union Territory Governments only after the receipt of utilization certificate and progress report.In addition, monitoring of expenditure of funds is done in review meetings with respective State Forest Departments.