Lack of state funds for Project Tiger exposes budget lies: Kishan

HYDERABAD: Union minister G. Kishan Reddy on Saturday slammed the state government for not releasing its share of funds for tiger protection, saying “it is unfortunate that the Telangana government has not been able to release even Rs 2.2 crore as part of its share.”

In a statement, Kishan Reddy said the Centre released funds to the state for centrally sponsored schemes such as  Project Tiger, forest fire prevention and management scheme (FPM), and development of wildlife habitat scheme. Since 2014, the Centre had given the state government Rs 30 crore.

He said the BRS government with a Budget of Rs 2.75 lakh crore could not release Rs 2.2 crore for protecting, preserving and nurturing tigers. “The state’s Budget stands exposed as one big lie,” he said.

Kishan Reddy said the Centre also supported the Nehru Zoological Park here and wildlife sanctuaries such as Eturnagaram, Kinnerasani, Pakhal, Pocharam, Manjira, Pranahita, and Siwaram. Additionally, the state received Rs 3,110 crore under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (Campa), he said.