Govt approves extension of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme

With an aim to boost tiger and elephant conservation efforts, the government Wednesday approved the continuation of the centrally-sponsored umbrella scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH) till 2019-20.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved extension of the scheme beyond the 12th Plan period ending in 2017-18.

The scheme consists of centrally sponsored schemes of Project Tiger (CSS-PT), Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-DWH) and Project Elephant (CSS-PE).

"The total outlay is Rs 1,731.72 crore as central share (Rs 1,143 crore for Project Tiger, Rs 496.50 crore for Development of Wildlife Habitats and Rs 92.22 crore for Project Elephant) from 2017-18 to 2019-20," an official statement said.

A total of 18 tiger range states, distributed in five landscapes of the country, would benefit under the Project Tiger.

The coverage is entire country in case of Development of Wildlife Habitats (DWH) and 23 elephant range states for Project Elephant.

"It would foster wildlife conservation in general with specific inputs for tiger in Project Tiger area and elephant in Project Elephant area," the statement said.

"The schemes would address the human-wildlife conflict effectively. Besides, the communities opting for voluntary relocation from the Core/Critical Tiger Habitat (6900 families) would be benefitted under CSS-PT and 800 families under Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Development of Wildlife Habitat," the statement said.

The schemes would also generate employment opportunities resulting in economic upliftment of people in and around tiger reserves/Protected Areas, besides leading to reduction in natural resource dependency with substitution by clean energy use.

"It will generate direct employment of about 30 lakh mandays annually which shall include many local tribes besides non-tribal local workforce. People living in vicinity would also get indirect benefits.

"Local populace would get opportunities to serve as guides, driver, hospitality personnel and in other ancillary jobs. These schemes would foster imparting various skills towards making people self-dependent through various eco-development projects, thereby enabling them to go for self-employment," the statement added.

These schemes would result in resource generation through tourist visits, thereby fostering in securing tiger source areas and other areas important for wildlife conservation, besides being helpful in sustaining life support systems as well as ensuring the food, water and livelihood security, it added.

"The implementation of the schemes would be done through the respective states," it added.