This Union budget saw five per cent drop in the allocation to Environment Ministry, even as outlay for tackling air and water pollution was raised by 48 per cent with the government saying it was committed to achieve economic development as green as possible.
However, no funds have been allocated for prevention of pollution in national rivers.
The Ministry was today allocated Rs 1,681.60 crore in the 2015-16 Union Budget, while in the last budget it was given Rs 1,764.6 crore.
Outlay for tackling air and water pollution has been raised by 48 per cent to Rs 136.33 crore for 2015-16 from Rs 92.50 crore.
Presenting his first full-fledged budget, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, "As environmental degradation hurts the poor more than the others, we are committed to make our development process as green as possible."
Giving push for climate change adaptation programmes, the government has allocated funds to the tune of Rs 160 crore for the 'Mission on climate change and adaption' for the 2015-16 fiscal, as against mere Rs 10 crore allocation this year.
Similarly, Rs 103 crore funds have been allocated for assessing environment impact of various development projects for 2015-16 as against just Rs 4.27 crore for this year.
For environment protection and monitoring of projects and schemes for the benefit of north eastern region and Sikkim, Rs 760 crore has been allocated for 2015-16, higher than Rs 562.58 crore this year.
Funds for conservation of tigers under the scheme 'Project Tiger' has been slashed to Rs 136.46 crore from Rs 161 crore, while that of allocation for 'Project Elephants' cut marginally to Rs 13.70 crore from Rs 14 crore in the review period.
Lower funds have also been allocated for wildlife preservation, national afforestation and eco-development programmes, forest and wildlife education and training institutes and also for research activities.
Of the total allocation for the 2015-16 fiscal, the plan outlay has been kept at Rs 1,446 crore, while the non-plan outlay at Rs 235 crore.
