New Delhi, July 8 (IANS): Taking note of the dwindling number of endangered species, the ministry of environment, forests and climate change allotted Rs.20 crore for their conservation on Wednesday.

Interacting with the media here, following the sixth meeting of the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority Advisory Council, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said special programmes will be undertaken to increase the numbers of such species.

"There are many species which are endangered especially Dugong, Gangetic Dolphins, Great Indian Bustard, Manipur Brow Antlered Deer and Wild Water Buffalo. Special programmes will be launched to increase the numbers of all these five," said Javadekar.

"We have allotted Rs.20 crore for them," he added.

The NCAC has Rs.250 crore at its disposal and in the meeting it was decided to allot Rs.162 crore for several environment projects including the conservation of the five endangered species, Javadekar said.