THODUPUZHA: Kerala has spent only 73.55 crores (33.22%) of the 221.38 crores allocated by the Centre in the last five years to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. This amount was wasted without being used when humans are being killed in Kerala due to wildlife attacks becoming a regular incident. This amount was allocated for the period from 2020 to 2025 in two projects. The loss is Rs 147.83 crore.

Kerala was allocated Rs 104.57 crore through the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat (IDWH) project. Of this, only Rs 30.82 crore was used (29.47%). Rs 116.81 crore was allocated under its sub-project, Project Elephant and Tiger, but only Rs 42.73 crore (36.58%) was spent. This was clarified by Union Forest Minister Bhupender Yadav in the Lok Sabha on the 11th.

This negligence comes at a time when the government is supposed to pay Rs 4 crore to the dependents of those killed in wildlife attacks in more than 600 applications. The government is citing a lack of funds as the reason for the arrears. According to the Ministry of Forests and Environment, 486 people were killed in wildlife attacks in Kerala in the five years from 2019 to 2024. Of these, 124 were killed by wild elephants and six by tigers.

Dean Kuriakose MP alleged that such a huge waste of funds is evidence of the state government's failure to protect wildlife within the forest and prevent them from entering areas inhabited by humans.

IDWH

A central scheme for the conservation of wildlife and the holistic development of wildlife habitats. Financial and technical assistance to state governments, including for habitat restoration, community participation, and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict.

Project Tiger and Elephant

Project Tiger was launched in 1973 to conserve tigers. Project Elephant was launched in 1992 to conserve elephants, whose numbers are declining due to habitat loss and poaching.