Lok Sabha Question No. 372 (STARRED), answered on 2017-03-28
Subject: Documentary on Rhino Conservation
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: GOPALAKRISHNAN CHINNARAJ, PARVESH SAHIB SINGH

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *372

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.03.2017

## Documentary on Rhino Conservation

## *372.  DR. C. GOPALAKRISHNAN: SHRI PARVESH SAHIB SINGH:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  recent  documentary  released  by  the  British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on rhino conservation in Kaziranga National Park and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the documentary has presented the Park and conservation efforts in a bad light which are away from reality and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any action against the documentary makers and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the permission to shoot the documentary was granted before the making and release of such documentary and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government has any standard operating procedure for grant of clearances for such projects  in  order  to  prevent  such  unsavoury  incidences  in  the  future  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) :A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c), (d) & (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *372 ON DOCUMENTARY ON RHINO CONSERVATION DUE FOR REPLY ON 28.03.2017

- (a) & (b) The  Government  is  aware  of  a  documentary  released  by  the  British  Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in which they have misrepresented the immunity provided to forest personnel under section 197 of the CrPC as a 'shoot to kill' policy.  There were several inconsistencies between the synopsis provided by the producer and final documentary released for airing.  The documentary was not submitted by producer for preview by the authorized committee as per the undertaking given by the producer.
- (c) The BBC has been disallowed filming in tiger reserves for a period of five years.
- (d) The  permission  granted  before  making  the  film  included  the  condition  for  preview before  release.    However,  the  documentary  was  not  submitted  to  the  authorities  for preview.
- (e) The National Tiger Conservation Authority as per power vested under section 38 O(2) and  38  (O)(1)(k)  of  the  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972  has  issued  a  standard  set  of conditions in this regard.  The details are at Annexure-I .

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## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION  NO.  *372  ON  DOCUMENTARY  ON  RHINO  CONSERVATION  DUE  FOR REPLY ON 28.03.2017

Standard set of conditions which need to be adhered to by filmmakers issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority as per power vested under section 38 O(2) and 38 (O)(1)(k) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

1. Under no circumstances tigress with newly born cubs in particular and tigers in general should be disturbed for filming.
2. The photography/shooting of film should not be done in close proximity of the animal to avoid any disturbance to its natural behaviour.
3. No filming should be done after sunset.
4. Use of aircraft will not be permitted.
5. Artificial feeding to wild animals will not be done.
6. The filming unit will not construct any hideout.
7. Prior permission of the concerned State Government/agencies concerned should be taken.
8. 8 It will be ensured by the Agency that views of the concerned Wildlife Authorities of the State should be taken into consideration and recorded and documented in the film.
9. Initiatives  of  the  Government  towards  conservation  should  also  be  highlighted  especially  in respect of village relocation.
10. The theme of shooting should have the prior approval of the State Chief Wildlife Warden.
11. A minimum distance of 30 meters should be ensured while filming the tiger.
12. The  rushes  should  be  shown  to  a  Committee  of  MoEF  for  enabling  us  to  ensure  that  the policies  of  the  Government  vis-à-vis  Wildlife  Conservation  are  not  projected  in  a  distorted manner.
13. Special permission for entry/ filming, if any, relating to the area may also be obtained from the concerned competent authority.
14. Filming is to be strictly restricted within the tourism zone identified as per the comprehensive guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
15. The 'No Objection Certificate' (NOC) is subject to  the  entry  period  permitted  by  the  State Government with respect to closure period/ monsoon etc.
16. The filming team/ crew should abide by the National Park/ Wildlife Sanctuary Rules, besides the  provisions  of  the  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972,  the  Indian  Forest  Act,  1927,  the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and other related legislations, and under no circumstances any person  of  the  said  filming  team/  crew  be  allowed  to  collect  any  biological/  non-biological specimen/ object/ artefact from the said Protected Area (PA).
17. The  filming  team/  crew  should  follow  the  comprehensive  tourism  guidelines  issued  by  the NTCA while filming.
18. Efforts of the State Government concerned in this context, shall be duly highlighted.

Besides above conditions, the NOC is 'subject  to  other  mandatory  clearances  as  and  when required'.

A copy of the finished documentary shall be sent to the Member Secretary, National Tiger Conservation Authority, Government of India, New Delhi.