New
Delhi, Dec 22: Union Environment and Forest Minister Harsh Vardhan on
Friday strongly countered BJP lawmaker Dushyant Singh's contention that the
number of tigers was on decline in the country and asserted that the lawmaker
needs to brush up his "figures".
"The member needs to brush up his figures....contrary to
what he is saying, the number of tigers has increased manifold and our works on
tiger conservation is also being appreciated worldwide," the Minister said
during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha.The Minister insisted that due to number of steps and multi-pronged approach of the government in coordination with states including Rajasthan and Gujarat that there has been significant improvement in the number of tigers.
In 2011, there were 1700 tigers by 2014 this figure has come up to 2226.
"I was in a conference in Nairobi where Forest officials lauded the efforts being made by India for preservation of tigers," he said.
Dr Vardhan said during last three years, there has been about 40 per cent increase in fund allocation for tiger preservation alone as the government has spent about Rs 1500 (in last three years) for tiger preservation alone.
Replying to members' queries, including from B Mahtab (Biju Janata Dal), Sanjay Dhotre (BJP) among others, the Minister said, the government has also initiated a number of programmes for protection of flagship species like tigers, elephants, rhino, snow leopard and also dolphin and crocodiles.
The Minister admitted that some species like the Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican,Vultures, Gangetic Dolphin, Asiatic Lions are some of the critically endangered species.
Mr Mahtab wanted the Environment ministry to write to Union Water Resources Ministry to do the needful so that "flow of sweet water" during non-monsoon season to Chilka Lake and Bhitar Kanika
from Chhattisgarh is not prevented.
"The increase in salinity of water in these lakes are endangering the lives of dolphins and crocodiles," Mr Mahtab said. UNI
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