Bhubaneswar, Aug. 25: Wildlife habitats in the state’s mining belt are facing a threat because of shoddy implementation of schemes for their protection over the last few years.

Sources said that one of these schemes, the Comprehensive Wildlife Management Plan (CWMP), was launched in 2005 with the objective of improving the quality of these habitats with funds raised from the holders of mining leases. But faulty execution of the CWMP instead exposed forests and wildlife sanctuaries in the mining areas to the threat of degradation.

Funds collected under the plan were to be credited to the Compensatory Afforestation Management Plan Account of Orissa. Sources said Rs 87.13 crore was collected from leaseholders under the CWMP in the five years between December 2005 and November 2010.

In certain cases, the plan guidelines were allegedly violated exposing wildlife habitats to threat. For example, test check of records of the divisional forest officers of Angul and Dhenkanal by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India revealed that between November 2004 and June 2009, the Centre had approved diversion of forestland measuring 3,586.97 hectares and 377.78 hectares in favour of two big mining companies.

The project reports in both the cases had indicated the existence of wildlife in the forestland diverted for mining to these companies. The lessees, accordingly, should have deposited Rs 7.93 crore for implementation of the Wildlife Management Plan in the area. But, in reality, neither the lessees deposited the amount nor did the respective divisional forest officers demanded the money from them.

According to theCAG report, in August last year, a top-ranking official of state forest department said Rs 23 lakh had been realised from one of the two companies concerned. Nothing was, however, stated with regard to the remaining amount of Rs 7.70 crore.

Sources said while the state government’s lackadaisical attitude towards implementing such important schemes has taken a toll on the wildlife habitats, manpower shortage plaguing the forest department has also contributed significantly to their decline over the years. Crunch of human resources in the department has turned most of the wildlife sanctuaries into the happy hunting ground of poachers and wildlife smugglers.

While elephants are being stalked by poachers in sanctuaries across the state with forest officials finding themselves helpless in most of the cases, several other wildlife species are also under threat.