Centre Releases Funds For Conservation & Management Of Chilka Lake In Odisha

Bhubaneswar: The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has ordered for release of funds for implementation of Integrated Management Plan (IMP) of Chilika Lake in Odisha

“I am directed to release the second instalment based on the Utilisation Certificates and Physical Progress Report along with photographs submitted by Chilika Development Authority in compliance to the conditions,” a letter from the Ministry said.

According to sources, Rs 23.50 crore was sanctioned for Conservation and Management of Chilika Lake in Odisha under the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) in March 2021. The NPCA is being implemented on 60:40 cost sharing between the Centre and Odisha government.

“In accordance with the revised procedure. the Reserve Bank of India may be advised for debiting the amount of Rs. 1.175 crore -first instalment for 2™ year implementation cost of Rs 4.701 crore to the account of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and passing on the credit to the Central Accounts Section, Nagpur, for onward transfer to the Government
of Odisha in the books to the later,” it added.

Tweeting the letter, Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi said that she had requested Union Minister Bhupender Yadav for release of the funds and had been pursuing the matter. “25000 fishermen families living around Chilka will be happy,” she added.

In 2020, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had also informed that the Centre has sanctioned Rs 4.7 crore assistance to Odisha in the last two years for the conservation of Chilika lake and Anshupa lake under NPCA.