Wildlife Trust of India blacklisted by J&K Wildlife Dept

Idrees Bukhtiyar
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10 May 2026

‘Negligible field work; major deficiencies found in biodiversity project’

Srinagar, May 09: The Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Department has blacklisted the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and barred it from participating in any future departmental works after finding major deficiencies in a biodiversity assessment project undertaken in Rajouri-Poonch region.

According to an order issued by the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, accessed by Rising Kashmir, the NGO had been awarded a contract in July 2022 for conducting biodiversity assessment, documentation and preparation of conservation plans for Tatakuti Wildlife Sanctuary, Kherra and Kullian Conservation Reserves.

The agreement required WTI to complete the assignment within one year, by July-August 2023. However, the department observed that the agency failed to submit the final report within the stipulated timeline despite repeated reminders and several extensions.

The order states that the Wildlife Warden, Rajouri-Poonch Division, issued multiple communications between February 2024 and September 2025 asking the agency to submit progress reports, revised drafts and undertake proper field surveys. Officials repeatedly pointed out shortcomings in the reports submitted by WTI, saying the studies lacked scientific orientation and did not comply with the terms and conditions of the Expression of Interest (EOI).

The department also alleged that the reports relied heavily on secondary sources rather than actual field surveys. In several communications, the Wildlife Warden informed the agency that important scientific parameters related to biodiversity assessment had either been overlooked or inadequately addressed.

According to the order, WTI submitted various draft reports and presentations over the course of the project, but the department remained dissatisfied with the quality of work. Officials said the field work conducted by the agency was “negligible” and the data provided lacked authenticity.

A committee headed by the Regional Wildlife Warden, Jammu, reviewed the draft management plan in December 2024 and identified several deficiencies and omissions. The committee later warned the agency that failure to submit satisfactory final reports could lead to cancellation of the project and recovery of funds already released.

Despite being granted what the department described as a “last opportunity” in September 2025, along with a 45-day extension to complete the study through intensive field surveys, the revised draft submitted by WTI in November 2025 allegedly failed to address the observations raised by officials.

In January 2026, the Wildlife Warden, Rajouri-Poonch Division, informed higher authorities that he was not satisfied with the field work and authenticity of the data submitted by the NGO and recommended against approval of the management plan.

Subsequently, a high-level meeting chaired by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden was held on June 24, 2026, to review the matter. The committee unanimously concluded that WTI had failed to complete the deliverables as per the EOI despite ample opportunities and extended deadlines.

The committee observed that the draft reports were “bereft of actual data” and not fit for acceptance. It also recommended blacklisting the organisation and recovery of the amount already paid to it under the project.

Acting on the recommendations, the department formally blacklisted WTI and debarred it from participation in any future works of the wildlife department. The order further stated that the draft document submitted by the organisation was not fit for acceptance due to poor quality data, negligible field work and failure to meet contractual obligations.