Top wildlife body maintains high approval rate for projects in 10 years

In its 91st meeting on July 9, the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) approved 99 of 107 projects, with no outright rejections.

The committee deferred four proposals, returned two to states, and kept two in abeyance pending Supreme Court clearance.

Since 2016, SC-NBWL approved 1,810 of 1,876 considered projects, a 96.5% approval rate across 52 meetings.

In 2018, 2021, and the first 2026 meeting, every proposal was approved; in 2020, 82 of 92 were cleared, the lowest rate at ~89%.

Approved projects include using 0.234 hectares from Biligiri Ranganatha Temple Tiger Reserve core for household tap water connections.