Chhattisgarh's Tiger Foundation Society to conserve declining tiger population

The Chhattisgarh government on Wednesday decided to set up a tiger foundation society in order to address the dwindling population of big cats in the state and take measures for their conservation, officials said.

The decision to constitute the 'Chhattisgarh Tiger Foundation Society' was taken during a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai at his official residence here, a public relations department official said.

The Chhattisgarh Tiger Foundation Society will function under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. A similar society has been operational in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh since 1996, an official statement said.

Chhattisgarh state came into existence on November 1, 2000 after being carved out of Madhya Pradesh. There are four tiger reserves in the state.

The society is aimed at conserving the continuously declining tiger population in Chhattisgarh, currently around 20, it said.

This institution (society) will be self-financed, which will not put any additional burden on the government exchequer. It will raise funds from individuals and institutions. This society will be directly involved in activities related to the conservation of tigers and other wildlife, the release said.

"It will promote eco-tourism with the participation of the local community, which will not only increase tourism but also create employment and income opportunities for the local people. Besides, it will encourage environmental education, research and training, thereby helping in making future conservationists," it said.

The initiative will ensure availability of external funds, expertise and resources for conservation, which will provide new employment opportunities to local communities and maintain the environmental balance of the state, it added.

It will prove to be a milestone in the field of wildlife conservation in Chhattisgarh, which will protect biodiversity as well as give a strong base to promote eco-tourism, the release said.

In another key decision, the cabinet gave its nod to provide financial assistance to consumers for setting up solar rooftop plants in their houses under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana to promote renewable energy, it said.

Under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) will provide additional financial assistance to consumers other than Centre's central financial aid, for installing solar rooftop plants at the homes of domestic consumers, which will vary based on the capacity of the solar plant (1 kW, 2 kW, 3 kW and above), it said.

A total of Rs 45,000 will be provided for a 1 kW plant (Rs 30,000 as central assistance and Rs 15,000 as state aid), while for a plant of 3 kW or more, the assistance will be Rs 1,08,000 (Rs 78,000 as central assistance and Rs 30,000 as state aid), it said.

Similar assistance has been proposed for housing societies/residential welfare associations. This grant amount will be received by CSPDCL in advance and will be disbursed later to the beneficiaries. A target has been set to install 60,000 such solar power plants in 2025-26, and 70,000 solar power plants in 2026-27. This will entail a financial burden of Rs 180 crore in the financial year 2025-26 and Rs 210 crore in 2026-27, it said.

The CSPDCL will be the implementing agency of this scheme as per the guidelines of the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), it added.