Mumbai: While budgetary allocation for the environment in the Union budget 2020-21 has increased by five per cent as compared to last year’s budget, environmentalists rued the lack of a significant increase in budget for wildlife conservation.
The total budget allocation for the environment, forests and wildlife ministry for this year is pegged at around '3,100 crore, out of which '460 crore has been allocated for controlling the pollution in populated cities.
The Centre will be providing assistance to state pollution control boards and related committees along with funding the National Clean Air Programme, for which '460 crore has been allocated. “It is a welcome move that the budget for the NCAP has been given significance when air pollution is gripping major cities, however it should be implemented well. The minister also emphasised on controlling emissions from coal power plants, however the 2019 deadline has already passed,” said Avinash Chanchal of Greenpeace India.
The budget for Project Tiger, too, has been reduced by '50 crore. “The Centre needed to increase the fund allocation for wildlife as only last year, the ministry stated that the tiger population has increased. It is important to protect their habitat, which demands better funds,” said Dr Jerryl Banait, a wildlife activist.
