Lok Sabha Question No. 6 (STARRED), answered on 2018-02-02
Subject: Encroachments in National Parks
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SAUGATA ROY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.*6

TO BE ANSWERED ON  02.02.2018

## Encroachment in National Parks

## *6. PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Union  Government  has  taken  note  of  the  encroachments  in  various National Parks/ Sanctuaries in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether some State Governments have requested to reduce the area of the notified sanctuaries, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;
- (d) whether any State Government is reluctant to evict the encroachers from the notified areas of the sanctuaries; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and the corrective measures taken by the Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to (e) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS  (a),  (b),(c),(d)  AND  (e)  OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *6 REGARDING 'ENCROACHMENT IN NATIONAL PARKS' RAISED BY PROF. SAUGATA ROY DUE FOR REPLY ON 02.02.2018.

- (a)and(b) There have been reports regarding encroachments in National Parks and Wildlife sanctuaries in the country from time to time. However, the details of such cases are  not  collated  in  the    Ministry.  Management  of  Protected  Areas  is  the responsibility of the concerned State/UT Governments.
- (c) During the last three years proposal for rationalisation of boundaries involving reduction of area of Wildlife Sanctuaries have been received from the following States:

|   S.No | Name of State   | Area proposed to be denotifying                                                                                                                |
|--------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Maharashtra     | Rationalisation of boundary of Maldhok Bird Sanctuary involving reduction from 1229.24 sq.km to 366.26 sqkm.                                   |
|      2 | Andhra Pradesh  | Boundary alteration of Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary involving reduction of contour +5 ft to + 3ft and exemption of private lands from sanctuary. |

The  above  proposals  were  considered  by  the  Standing  Committee  of National  Board  for  Wildlife  (NBWL).  The  Committee  recommended  the proposal  of  Maharashtra.  However,  the  proposal  of  Andhra  Pradesh  was referred back to the State Government.

- (d)and (e) No report indicating reluctance of State Governments to evict the encroachers from  the  notified  areas  of  the  sanctuaries  has  been  received  in  the  Ministry. Under Section 34A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, officers not below the  rank  of  an  Assistant  Conservator  of  Forests  of  the  Governments  are empowered to evict any unauthorised persons/ constructions from the  Wildlife Sanctuary. Further, under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats', 'Project Tiger' and 'Project Elephant', the Government  of  India  provides  technical  and  financial  assistance  to  the  State Governments  for  undertaking  various  activities  in  Protected  Areas  including those aimed at the prevention of encroachments.