Modi seeks funds from Centre for lions.

2 Sep 2008, 0536 hrs IST,TNN

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Wild Life Advisory Board has in a unanimous resolution demanded funds from the Central government for lion conservation. The resolution, taken in a meeting on Monday, demanded that the Centre should take up lion conservation on the lines of Project Tiger.

The board in the resolution also said the Centre has been neglecting the lion conservation programme. Chief Minister Narendra Modi also called on the board members to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and make a representation to allocate funds for lion conservation.

The board has also decided to form Gujarat Wildlife Internet Society and to organize programmes to educate tourists coming to the state. It has decided to use various channels to create awareness about various birds and animal species spotted in various sanctuaries of the state. T he board cleared the Greater Gir project which will be a comprehensive project for conservation of rare Asiatic lions in the area outside the Gir Sanctuary. Officials said that under this project, various areas where there is a sizeable lion population will be declared as sanctuaries.
SK Nanda, principal secretary, forest, said the board, which met after nearly 18 months, discussed various programmes and the second sanctuary of Barda which was under development for lions. He said that they have also decided to take up activities in and around the sanctuaries throughout the year.

Board members have also decided to provide road connectivity to villages within the sanctuary. Nanda said that the villages near Ambaji and Danta will be connected to the surrounding areas such that they are more accessible to people.

Officials said that all the proposals will be sent to National Wildlife Board for final clearance.

Old route to Dholavira to be revived

Wild Life Advisory Board has decided to revive the old route to Dholavira. Tourists have been using an alternative longer route via Rapar because of lack of connectivity between Dhamanka and Dholaviram to reach Dholavira. The board on Monday proposed to revive the Dhamanka-Dholariva route which was used by tourists in the past.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Modi_seeks_funds_from_Centre_for_lions_/articleshow/3434642.cms