The state government, which has been spending meagre amounts on biodiversity awareness, despite there being 23,000 local bodies, is yet to form biodiversity management committees that are mandatory under the law.
Until last year, only Rs 60 lakh was spent annually on biodiversity from the forest department’s budget. This year, the figure went up to Rs 3 crore due to CoP-11. The funds granted by the Centre and the state government for the hosting of the meet — around Rs 450 crore — is only for the city’s beautification and pylon works. The Central government’ funds have been given for a biodiversity museum.
An official of the forest department said, “The budget, which started at Rs 27 lakh per annum, is now Rs 3 crore, which is used for spreading awareness, forming biodiversity management committees and for protecting biological heritage sites. The funds should be increased drastically.” This is going to be on the agenda of CoP-11 — the budget allocations by governments in various countries for conservation of biodiversity.