The Government of Gujarat has sought the assistance of Rs. 2,000 crores from the Central Government for Project Lion. As per a senior government official, the request is under active consideration for approval.
Project Lion was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 15, 2020. It is to be modeled on Project Elephant and Project Tiger.
The Chief Minister of Gujarat Vijay Rupani, while participating in an event organized by the State forest department to celebrate World Lion Day on August 10, 2021, informed in a video address that the allocation process of Rs. 2,000 crores by the Central government was underway.
Significance:
The Chief Minister of Gujarat informed that in the coming years under Project Lion, the link between lion conservation and breeding will be strengthened.
He also added that the optimal use will be made of the hospitals, rescue centers, breeding centers, and laboratories. Radio collars and other modern technology will also be used well.
Project Lion in Gujarat: Essential details
• The State Government, under Project Lion, aims at establishing a National Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Center for a projected investment of Rs. 71 crores.
• A lion cell at the Union Ministry of environment, forest, and climate change is also envisioned for an investment of Rs. 31.65 crores under the proposed plan.
• Gujarat Government has also taken up the task of maintaining the health of the lions and their conservation by developing a new concept of an advanced lion hospital.
• Other features will be lion ambulance, trackers, rescue and rapid action team, and Vanyaprani Mitras in Sasan Gir with the public participation.
Key Highlights:
• The funding proposal by Gujarat Government for the project involves Rs. 712 crores for the habitat and the population management. Rs. 375 crores for the communities as stakeholders under the Sinh Mitra Yojana.
• Other aspects are Rs. 203 crores or lion health management, Rs. 152 crores for surveillance and monitoring, Rs. 120 crores for human-wildlife conflict management, and Rs. 74 crores for research and learning.
• 54 cores will be required for Information Learning and communication while the development of the potential lion habitat and future lion migration or the dispersal will require Rs. 117 crores.
• The mitigation of human-wildlife conflict envisages funds of Rs. 22.5 crores.
Increase in Asiatic Lion Population in Gujarat:
The Forest Department of Gujarat had informed in June 2020 that the Asiatic Lion population has increased by 29% over the last five years- from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020.
The distribution range of lions in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat has increased by 36% from 22,000 sq km in 2015 to 30,000 sq km.
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