Tiger gets lion's share of Budget support for wildlife

New Delhi, Feb 28 (UNI) The Tiger has got a lion's share of the allocations for the wildlife while the elephant could not claim the support corresponding to its size in the Union Budget for 2007-08.

The Project Tiger will get double the amount it got last year. As against Rs 31.05 crore given for the conservation and protection of the threatened species last year, Rs 61.50 crore have been provided in this year's budget.

Project Elephant could get only a marginal increase of less than a crore over the previous year's allocations.

Last year, Rs 13.09 crore had been allocated for the project while this year it has got Rs 14 crore.

The Central Zoo Authority has got a substatially reduced amount this year--Rs 14 crore from Rs 17.63 crore of last year.

Spending on general welfare of animals has gone down marginally from Rs 21.88 crore to Rs 20.80 crore.

The allocation for zoological parks has also been cut marginally--from Rs 6.74 crore to Rs 6.57 crore.

However, total allocation for wildlife preservation has gone up from Rs 151.81 crore in the previous Budget to Rs 188.64 crore in the 2007-08 Budget.

Spending on strengthening wildlife division and consultancies for special task force has also been doubled from Rs 2.60 crore in the previous budhget to Rs 4.58 crore this year.

UNI